Ola Kasprzak with Malcolm Chisholm

Politicians, preoccupied with political rivalry, can forget the most important thing –  the needs of people they represent

Read Ola Kasprzak’s fascinating and forthright report of her experience  of shadowing two politicians in the Scottish Parliament and City of Edinburgh Council – she says they changed her negative opinion of politicians but her conclusions should be read by anyone standing for election this year. Or any other year.

WHY I WANTED TO TAKE PART?

I saw the Opening Doors shadowing programme as a great opportunity to increase my knowledge about political institutions and decision making processes so that I could make people in my community more aware of their rights and civil responsibilities and empower them to express their needs and concerns.

I think many people do not fully understand politics and realize how it affects the quality of their lives. They often perceive it as very abstract and unconnected to their everyday problems. This in turn can make politics even more distant from the ordinary member of society.

I come from a country where, for at least the last two decades, people have felt disengaged from politics. Frequent changes on the political scene and many scandals created a feeling of confusion, powerlessness and discouragement among Polish society. The situation illustrates how politicians, preoccupied with political rivalry, can forget the most important thing –  the needs of people they represent.

Ola at Swietlica, the Polish drop-in club in Leith

Perhaps these bad experiences help to explain the lack of civil engagement among the Polish community living in Scotland. Financial circumstances and the struggle to satisfy more basic needs may be another element.  Added to that,  the current economic and political climate (scapegoating migrant workers for the rise in unemployment), reinforces tensions and discrimination.  As a result members of ethnic minorities feel more excluded and withdraw further from social and political life.

WHAT I DID?

Shadowing Malcolm Chisholm in the Scottish Parliament and Lesley Hinds in the City of Edinburgh Council gave me a chance to see the work of politicians on two levels. Both of them ensured that I could observe the wide variety of their work.

With Malcolm I could see the work of different committees (Equal Opportunities, Subordinate Legislation and Public Petitions) and find out who they consist of and how they make decisions. I liked the fact that committees ensure public participation  and take into consideration opinions of different witnesses, specialists and members of organisations related to the issue.

The discovery for me was Public Petitions Committee, where every voter can lodge a petition. I think it could really benefit  society if this opportunity was better known.

Being in the Debating Chamber, where the competition between parties was visible in the way they present their views, was also an interesting experience.

Another part of the shadowing scheme I really enjoyed was spending time with Malcolm in the constituency, which included his surgery, visiting local community organizations (Mental Health Project and West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre in particular) and knocking on people’s doors and asking about their concerns. These were actions I did not expect from a politician and they definitely added a human face to the job.

Thanks to Lesley Hinds I was able to see the work of a city councilor, observing the Fire Board Committee and Labour Group discussing different topics and issues before the Council meeting. I discovered that the role of councilor requires a comprehensive knowledge from so many different areas. I also went with Lesley to her surgery, where people come with different concerns but all of them – even those which seem trivial – are treated seriously.

Lesley also gave me the opportunity to shadow her work in other organizations she is involved in, like community council and North Edinburgh Arts Board. It gave me an insight into how people from other communities work together and what they do to improve their lives.

CONCLUSIONS – ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

The shadowing scheme definitely helped to change my negative perception of politicians and increased my trust in them.

Thanks to Malcolm and Lesley I saw a human side of politics. I have learned that politicians are not just distant, patronizing figures, who are focused mainly on their careers but make an effort to be closer to people and hold  dialogue with them on an equal level.  I was  surprised there are so many ways of accessing politicians and politics for an ordinary person  – with public petitions committee as an additional advantage in Scotland. Above all, I have realized that the politician’s role requires a lot of time commitment, organizational skills and extensive knowledge.

However, I think that communication and cooperation between politicians and communities still needs to be improved.

1. Politicians should make an effort to speak to the public but, on the other hand, people have to understand that this is also up to them to improve their lives.
2. More actions should be taken to increase peoples’ awareness of ways of influencing politicians and politics (like, apart from voting in elections, public petitions committee, cross-party groups, politicians’ surgeries and other forms of contacting them).
3. People need to learn more about other forms of civil activity. The importance of their involvement in non-governmental organizations (the third sector) should be emphasized. It is undoubtedly easier to impact politics working together with others. Association gives a group of people an identity and additional strength. Also cooperation and networking between different organizations can result in more creative ideas and give people more voice in political institutions.

I think this would ensure greater understanding of issues different communities and individuals face and help to change their reality for the better.

Ola is now working with local voluntary organisations after studying ‘Working with Communities’ at Jewel and Esk College. She is actively involved in Swietlica, the Polish community group in Edinburgh.

The night before, an equally tantalising email arrives from Al of Greener Leith with news of the Punjabi Women’s Kitchen in Leith.  What do we know about it? Sadly, not much – but that is about to change.

So, there’s lots of world food news to catch up on.  Back from Amsterdam (where incidentally we ate Italian, Dutch and Asian food) we are on the case in Leith where Greener Leith is promoting a World Tour of dining.  Working up an appetite right now.

What is an active citizen?  If I was being very flippant I would say it is the kind of person who comes out on a Saturday morning to talk about the big news stories of the day.  No, not just talk.  Active citizenship in the ACTive Inquiry sense means moving, listening, looking, feeling and doing.  At one point I found myself crouching on the floor connecting with the lives – and deaths – of people thousands of miles away. 

Don’t let that image put you off.  The Newsgroup – the inspiration of Gavin Crichton of ACTive Inquiry – is an extraordinary experience, by turns moving, humbling and liberating. I must admit on that particular Saturday morning I had second thoughts as I rushed through breakfast to get to Pilmeny Youth Centre on time.  By lunchtime I couldn’t believe three hours had raced by.

The workshop combines drama techniques with open space process.  So this morning’s group – aged 16 to 60 and representing people from Japan to Joppa – begin by choosing the most pressing news story of the moment and end by discussing what active citizens can do about it. In the process we begin to build a picture of Jo (or Joe) the active citizen. (see Ben Stollery’s notes below).

We choose Haiti (other topics on the list were bankers, Murdoch’s media domination, surveillance by satellite, and the Iraq inquiry). Although at times I feel uncomfortable – what right have I to imagine how it feels to live or die through that devastating earthquake – it is much more than a dramatic exercise. I am left with a lasting connection which makes each news story  more real, more relevant, more personal (though of course writing this some weeks later, Haiti has already dropped from the headlines). [See Mercy Corps for latest]

Perhaps everyone should join a Newsgroup, not least  every politician and every policy maker – anyone whose decisions shape other people’s lives. It is a wonderfully stimulating,  liberating and humanising way of looking at the world.

If the idea appeals to you, why not come to the next Newsgroup workshop on Saturday 6 March at Pilmeny Youth Centre on the corner of Buchanan Street and Dalmeny Street.

We’ll come back to the subject of active citizenship in future blogs.  Right now, here’s Ben Stollery’s notes from the January workshop.

BUILDING A PICTURE OF JO / JOE

We considered the situation in Haiti after the recent devastating earthquake, particularly in regard of the impact of the country’s international debt. What could Jo/e do?

• Learn about the country
• Not to feel guilty about not knowing very much about the country’s situation already
• Learn about any involvement our own country has had in creating the context for Haiti’s situation (foreign policies, holiday industry etc)
• Examine what our on-going stake in this situation is; ie what are the long-term/institutional policies (such as aid, trade, exploitation of raw materials) that have influenced Haiti’s situation. Learn the difference between ‘emergency’ and other types of aid
• Learn what other organisations are already doing to address the debt issue eg. Jubilee Scotland
• Improve our communication (with one another)
• Be wary of rushing to intervene before reflecting on all of the above

It’s not just an exercise.  Ben adds “I thought you might be interested in this update on Haiti’s debt situation (good news!) on the Jubilee Scotland ”

This is an ‘Open View’ from Fay Young, co-ordinator Leith Open Space website and Opening Doors Shadow Scheme. Your views are welcome.

Spot the poetry in St Andrew Square?

Sadly, we missed the event in Leith last week when performance poet Mark Thompson carried poetry to the Library, for an evening about life and learning with adult learners and tutors from CLAN Edinburgh. But there’s still two weeks to go in the Carry a Poem campaign with free events all round town – not least the snowdrop walks in the Botanics every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in February.  And look for the poetry planted in St Andrew Square.

Carry a Poem is this year’s brilliant idea for the annual reading campaign organised by Unesco City of Literature and the Scottish Poetry Library.  There are all kinds of stories behind the poems people choose to carry with them as you can find out from the free books they are handing out all over the city.

At the Botanics you go for a snowdrop walk with the Rangers (meet at the new John Hope Gateway building at 11 am) and get a snowdrop poem to take home.  In the Poetry Garden in St Andrew Square you can discover poems planted around the pond.

The little video here was taken on a mobile phone with sun blazing down on the snow – we just wanted to show that people were stopping to read the poems as soon as they were planted.

Lots more happening all over the city.  Take a look at the Carry a Poem blog for details.

Here is an organisation that is clearly not afraid to tackle a difficult topic. To celebrate 20 years of working for racial equality, the  Council of British Pakistanis (Scotland) has chosen the thorny subject of UK immigration control for their conference on Tuesday 9th February. Speakers include representatives of the UK Border Agency in Scotland, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Places still avsilable!

It sounds as if this is nothing new for the CBPS. As Mohammed Akram, CBPS President, points out in a covering letter, they have tackled many other difficult subjects since they were formed in 1990. Not least the issue of forced and incompatible marriages (as distinct from the tradition of arranged marriages).

Now working closely with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in Scotland, the CBPS is a representative on the Stakeholders Managed Migration Forum.  With thousands of  students waiting to hear whether they will be allowed to attend British universities, this could hardly be a more topical time to discuss migration and immigration.

Speakers at the conference in Surgeons Hall will give a comprehensive picture of the work of UK Border Agency from Britain to Pakistan and Afghanistan, with a  keynote speech by Barbara Woodward, UKBA International Director.  Speeches end with time for open discussion.

The conference is in the Symposium Hall at the Royal College of Surgeons, Hill Square, Edinburgh from 2pm to 4.30pm.

There are still a few places available. If you would like to book or know more contact Huma Awan, the Racial Equality Officer for CBPS by email:

cbp–s@rediffmail.com

Here is an extract from  Mohammed Akram’s letter:

We have particularly worked closely with  the police, financial institutions, especially Bank of Scotland, utilities such as ScottishPower and have had input into many civil service departments including HM Revenues and Customs on race awareness and their dual role as employers and service provides.  In education, it is worth noting that we played a pivotal role in implementing Urdu as a modern language at exam level in Scottish schools.

With the world in turmoil and sadly increasing threat of home grown terrorists, which we totally and unreservedly condemn, we embarked upon a project with the support of the Scottish Government to tackle radicalisation and extremism in Scotland.  This is a huge educational task for all the communities and the media and extensive work is required before we can see real results.  Otherwise we are in danger of alienating our youth and ending up helping the followers of a twisted ideology whom we have all been striving so hard to eradicate.

In the last 20 years this Council has dealt with many sensitive and often challenging issues of the day and in future, with even wider support, we will pursue policies and practices which enhance Scotland as a peaceful multiracial society.

M. Akram

President

January 2010

Zawadi, African women’s choir at the Diversity event in West Lothian.

“It’s getting busy,” emails Agnes Holmes in her new year greeting from Africa Centre Scotland. As always the diary is full of events and activities which is why ACS is looking for volunteers to join the management committee. Specially welcome are people skilled in money matters, media and marketing. If you have time and experience to offer, please contact info@africacentrescotland.org.uk by 12^th February.

As Agnes explains in her email there are interesting developments at the small office in Blackfriar’s street where a past volunteer successfully applied for funding under the Vodafone World of Difference Campaign.

Jessica Carzoli applied for funding under the new Vodaphone programme, the first of its kind in the UK, which pays highly motivated young volunteers to work for their favourite charity for two months.   “Jessie, applied for this programme and now we have her as a full time worker for two months,” says Agnes,  “We hope this will help with capacity building and increasing awareness of important causes for the BME community.”

For her part, Jessie, who was one of 500 successful applicants, says, “I am ecstatic about being chosen as a participant in this programme, especially because I feel the Africa Centre Scotland deserves assistance and recognition for its amazing mission statement and potential.”

You can follow her progress on her blog,

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

For a that, and a’ that,
It’s comin’ yet for a’ that,
That Man to Man, the world o’er,
Shall brithers be for a’ that.”

The aim (which fits well with the World Kitchen) is to encourage families and community groups to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) with the help of a “Burns Super Supper” CD produced by the internet radio station Clan Radio.

For a donation of £5 you get the CD which guides you through the complete Burns Supper from the piping in of the haggis to Auld Lang Syne through all the toasts (to the haggis, the Immortal Memory, the lassies, and a’ that) with poetry and song – and a 30 minute interlude of music to give you time for some eating and drinking. Anything else you raise during the supper (say, £5 per guest) can be sent to MRF (see below).

To listen to sampled extracts of the Burns Super Supper click here:  Burns Super Supper Taster by innerear

“Instead of one big fundraising event we are looking for lots of people to contribute relatively small amounts from lots of different events,” says Mary Millar. “It’s a credit crunch way for people to celebrate Burns and help charity”.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

The inspiration comes from Robert Mackenzie who started Clan Radio to broadcast the highlights of the annual Gaelic talent show (The Mod). He now finds an “almost scary” amount of interest in Burns from different people across the world. That set him thinking:.  “Wait a minute, I would love to have a CD that tells me how to run a proper Burns Supper.”

The result is “the world’s first interactive Burns Supper” – 80 minutes of beautifully produced downloadable music, song and poetry (from singers and musicians giving their time freely, many of them volunteers working in hospital radio).  The podcast programme will be broadcast on Burns Night (Monday 25 January)  beginning at 8 pm on Clan Radio with listeners across the world. But as Mary points out the Burns Supper season lasts until the end of February, ” the CD lets you organise your own event wherever and whenever it suits you”.

The campaign hopes each supper will raise at least £50.  (Anyone raising more than £250 gets a free bottle of whisky.) To find out more and to get your CD, contact Dawn Carrie or Alison Baker on 0131 510 2345 or email dawncarrie@scotland-meningitis.org.uk

Both Mary and Robert are keen  to connect with ethnic minority community groups, emphasising the international appeal of Burns.

A quick update – Mercy Corps say they have had a fantastic response from Edinburgh, ” our Haiti appeal total currently stands at £100,000.”  But much more is needed and you can help by donating online (click here) or by calling 0845 245 0686 between 8am and 8pm.

According to Mercy Corps, giving money is the best way to help bring aid to people suffering this terrible disaster. Jennifer Adams, the charity’s event development co-ordinator adds:

“Mercy Corps is focused first on the immediate humanitarian needs on the ground and our team is coordinating with the UN and other groups  to ensure that we respond in a way that is as effective and efficient as possible.

“The Mercy Corps team will simultaneously lay the groundwork for longer term-recovery in Haiti. We specialise in helping communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery.
Our emergency response focuses on three areas: health, clean water, and sanitation.”

For more information follow the updates on the Mercy Corps website.

The appeal is supported by the Edinburgh Disasters Response Committee.

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Don’t just get mad, join the Newsgroup.

Bankers narrowly lost out to Afghanistan in the first Newsgroup workshop when Gavin Crichton asked people what news stories were making them angry.  What will be the burning issue for the second Newsgroup?  Come and find out at 10 am on Saturday 30th January in Pilmeny Youth Club. Be sure to bring your cuttings with you!

This is a joint venture between Leith Open Space and ACTive Inquiry, the very active community theatre group now firmly based in Leith.  The inspiration comes from artistic director Gavin Crichton who saw the potential of combining the  Open Space format with a drama workshop to get constructive discussion going. So it’s not just about talking.  Like our Open Space discussion events, the workshop ends with a vote on what participants want to do to make a change.

As Gavin explains: “The workshop explores  how we can become active participants in current affairs rather than passive consumers.”

And what kind of action can we take? Write to your MP about Afghanistan was the gist of the winning vote at the end of the first event in December when 19 people turned up with news to discuss and plenty of views.  “It was a great session,” says Gavin who is emailing everyone on the list inviting them to a second event at:

Pilmeny Youth Centre, 44 Buchanan Street, between 10 am and 1pm on Saturday 30th January.  The fee is just £5 and after the workshops we will adjourn to the cafe at Out of the Blue in the Old Drill Hall where, no doubt, the discussion will continue.

If you want more information just get in touch with Gavin on gavin@activeinquiry.co.uk or ring Ben Stollery on 07963 782 874

ACTive INquiry promotes increased participation in the arts as a catalyst for active involvement in society. More information on  www.activeinquiry.co.uk