Another side of Lesley Riddoch

Nordic Round Table

We've had a brilliant response to the invitation to hear more about life in the world's most successful democracies – Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. So much so we've moved the Northern Horizons meeting on March 16^th in the Scottish Parliament to the biggest committee room to squeeze in more people! So if you tried to register and got put off by the sold out label – try again. We'll have Nordic academics, a Nordic specialist MSP from each political party and myself showing a wee film about Norwegian kindergartens to kick off debate. The purpose of the evening is to ask whether excellent parts of the Nordic Model (like their childcare) can be imported to Scotland, if not why not and whether Scotland can afford to copy the Nordic Model.

Mike Russell the Education Minister has just sent his apologies. He can't come because he'll be visiting Sweden and Finland to learn more about their education systems that very day!

So politically the timing is good -- the more evidence, real debate and questioning we can produce on the 16^th the better. Just so you don't get lured along under false pretences through, we won't just be discussing childcare. The Nordic economy, oil fund and independence will also be debated.

60-70 folk are already registered. So do register asap at www.northernhorizons.eventbrite.com.

It's also important to get MSPs along – that's why the event is in Holyrood. We want politicians to aim for the best welfare systems not the second best. Especially in a recession.

But rest assured the meeting won't just be full of blinkered Nordophiles.

I'll also be showing the film I made in Norway about their fabulous outdoor kindergarten system in Sofi's bar on March 10th if you're about (with the kind permission of Swedish owner and young mum Anna!) all info on the attached poster. And calling all Dundonians -- Clive Gillman at the DCA is suggesting showing the kindergarten film with a post film discussion. Would there be enough interest for that?

You know how to get in touch!

And the next episode of the Scotsman Podcast is available

The panel were in good form as Bill Jamieson, Joyce McMillan, Peter McMahon and Lesley met to record this week's podcast. You can hear the results here. The topics include bullying, literacy and an plea for the fat czar.

The Second Scotsman Podcast goes up

Just a quick reminder that the second Scotsman podcast is now online  with Bill Jamieson, Peter McMahon, Joyce McMillan and this blogger. Check it out!

A date for your diary

 

Dundee Ambassador

Well, I appear to have become an Ambassador for Dundee. Whaur's me free copy o the Beano, then eh?

I'm not usually very clubbable when it comes to supporting councils, campaigns and quangos. Invariably, as a journalist, a moment comes when being a "recruit" or Ambassador presents a conflict of interests. For Dundee though, I'd make an exception – partly because it's had far more than its fair share of negative press, and partly because I'd like to see if Ambassadors can get anything done.

With such a wee city, all of us who have the energy to change things should be fully engaged with one another – we're not. Maybe this effort will prompt some long overdue action on my own pet subject – renewable energy.

Today the People's Republic of Eigg announced that islanders are aiming to increase 92% renewable energy to 100% -- Dundee is the only city that could reach those dizzy heights quickly too.

It has an unrivalled capacity for harnessing solar, water and wind energy. Dundee has more hours of winter sunshine than any other city and 60% of its housing stock is on a south-facing slope on the Law Hill, which makes it perfect for generating solar power. People tend to think that you need lots of summer sun for solar energy but that's not true - winter sun happens when energy demand is highest, so it's ideal. Its wind potential is also huge – the two Michelin turbines are great but I would like to see more in the city, and on the bridge. It's even a natural source for tidal energy with the Tay's flowing into the North Sea.

What will it take for Dundee to become Scotland's first completely renewable city? I'm very happy to champion that cause – and fully expect to be made to DO something about it.

Comment on http://www.dundee.com/dundee-ambassadors/ambassadors/lesley-riddoch-writer-commentator-and-broadcaster.html

The initial reaction to the Scotsman Podcast

The initial reaction to the Scotsman podcast was been very encouraging. Getting 6 opinionated people in one place was always an interesting challenge. The resulting conversation was excellent. You can play the Scotsman Podcast Number 1 right here and decide yourself.. or go over to the usual repository of all things Feisty and download it there.

 

Scotsman podcast

If you ever have one minute (or 35 actually), cast an ear over the first Scotsman/Feisty podcast recorded today -- if I say so myself its quality mince! Why wouldn't it be with Joyce McMillan, Bill Jamieson, Tiffany Jenkins, Peter McMahon, Bill Jamieson and myself.

What did we find out – well, none of us was born on the east coast of Scotland. Strange – and maybe a sign of how much the voluble west of Scotland Celt has permeated all the media. Bill Jamieson comes from Ayrshire – so does Joyce. Tiffany doesn't like going on holiday anywhere in Britain and George Kerevan has no web presence despite being an SNP candidate in the forthcoming sometime election. Peter McMahon has an Irish passport and I'm hoping to become a PhD student at Strathclyde. We discussed repatriating aboriginal bones from museums, research at university and the piece in todays paper by Prof Haldane of St Andrews Uni, Ayrshire, juries not understanding judges' directions and much more.

It was a wee bit nerve-wracking – six smart opinionated people could easily talk over one another or tackle too many subjects or fail to engage. But it really seemed to gel.

But no comments yet on Scotsman.com – go one. Be the first!!!

http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman-politics-podcast/The-Scotsman-Politics-Podcast-.6082187.jp

Border crossing

This is Willie the Border Crosser – a fabulously energetic Norwegian wrestler from Kirkenes who has been travelling backwards and forwards to Murmansk and all over the old Soviet Union is a clapped out Toyota, taking teams of young men from Norway beyond the formal limits of the western world for the last three decades.

In case there's confusion. Willie's type of wrestling is more Greek-Roman Olympic sports stuff than Mickey O'Rourke.

Willie's first trip only happened because he realised the military Russian guard was a fellow restler – he had the same mangled ears! After that he just kept travelling – ironically his day job was managing the Mountain Hall sports and concert venue in Kirkenes – a cave turned into a bunker by the Germans, extended by the Norwegians into a nuclear fallout shelter in case of Russian attack and finally a concert venue for the Barents Spektakel showcasing indigenous Russian musicians!

Willie has paid no attention to the hard facts of the Cold War or the tedious form-filling and high cost of crossing the old Iron Curtain and now the bureaucractic but no less formidable Ice Curtain into Russia. Inspired by the example of the Vardoe boxers and wrestlers in 1959 who sailed into Murmansk for the craic and promptly got arrested by the KGB, (see Monday's Scotsman column!) Willie decided to keep visiting his neighbours across the Iron Curtain. After all, Oslo is three hours away by plane – Murmansk just two. And Nikel – a heavily polluted mining town is even closer. Just 45 minutes from Kirkenes. And yet 1 in 5 inhabitants of Nikel have never been to Norway. Willie though has paid no attention to the mere formalities that have deterred almost everyone else. Norwegians currently have to "import" their cars to drive over and Russians must itemise every item of clothing and belongings and pay tax on any discrepancy on return. And that's after they've managed to get days off work to make the ten hour round trip twice to Murmansk to submit and collect their visa application in person. After all that the Norwegians have tough rules. If Russians don't have enough cash to afford Norwegian accommodation, they may be rebuffed. But hopes are high that in April a new border zone will be created allowing free local passage for people living 30 kms from the border on either side.

This big step forward in trust and common sense is not just the result of high level talks in Moscow/Oslo, or even enlightened self interest as the two nations prepare to exploit the 20% of oil and gas reserves that lie in their shared seas (unless collapsing gas prices put that on hold). It's also a tribute to persistent border crossers like Willie. Now I'm about to hop on the plane to oslo and then Edinburgh – a border crosser myself after a month in Sweden and Norway.

I'm looking forward to seeing my old man. And maybe a few green fields of home after nothing but snow for weeks!

Border Crossing

I've just come back from the Russian – Norwegian border, 14 kms from Kirkenes in Norway's High North -- driven there by Stein, a very helpful member of the Barents Secretariat. This low-key, quiet border may get busier from April when a new Border Zone will hopefully be created, allowing Russians and Norwegians living with 30 kms of the border visa-free travel – just as all Scandinavians currently enjoy across one another's national borders.

It's quite an advance because on the Russian side (which we didn't reach) there is a barbed wire fence reaching from the Barents Sea to the Gulf of Bothnia on the Finnish Baltic – even though, this border (Russia's oldest) is one of the most peaceful crossing places between east and west. And also one of the slowest – and not just because it's the only border where there's a two hour time difference. Stein tells me that even if you have a multi-journey visa, which allows 90 days in 6 months to be spent in Russia – you still have to "import" your car every time you go through. And you must drive (or cycle) through. No foot traffic is allowed (or makes much sense given its minus 20). The editor of the fabulous Barents Observer www.barentsobserver.com Thomas Nilsen wants his fastest ever processing time of 12 minutes reduced to one minute with biometrics to let him stick a finger into a reader at either side and drive straight through. Will that happen this year? Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store apparently discussed all these plans in Moscow this week with his opposite number. So big change could be just months away – though just for the border dwellers at first.The Barents Spetakel have had some really cheeky artistic pops at the whole absurdity of the border regime. They do get fit classes (border crossing exercises – geddit?) and made a false floodlit border on the frozen lake beside the check point (above) inviting people to cross.

A recent survey found 70% of Russians want to visit Norway – but only 30% would consider working here. I thought that sounded very low, but Norwegians think that's quite high given the cultural chasm that decades of separation have created. Roll on Spring! I have also been massively impressed by the way people aren't daunted by face-freezing temperatures. This woman had put little socks on her dogs feet so he could still enjoy his daily walk– "he's 13 so now he feels the cold," and older women appear to have better mobility in the snow thanks to wooden sledges that act as shopping trolleys/zimmers/ top speed devices for going down slopes. I'm off to try one now.

Arctic Calling

I'm in Kirkenes, 20 miles from the Russian border and so far east in Northern Norway that I'm on the same longitude line as Alexandria and Istanbul. I have rarely met more welcoming, friendly and smart, co-operative people. "The further north you go the better east-west co-operation become" – Russia's Foreign Minister observed in Kirkenes recently – and he's right. You know all that stuff about people getting colder and more defensive and almost less civilised and outgoing the further north it gets? Or colder the closer they get to "cold" Russia – forget that southern-based propaganda and self-hating nonsense.

I'm just back from "downtown Kirkenes" (population 3016 in 1996) to hear about the amazing Border Crossers – Norwegian sportsmen who've cheerfully ignored the border controls for decades to keep contact and competition with their neighbours alive. As you can see I came back somewhat excitable with some presents -- a winner's medal from the recent Cross Border Barents Olympics, and a Russian swimming cap.

The occasion for this visit is the Barents Spektakel – a four days arts event in the world's northernmost town. Their opening concert was quite simply the best cultural event I have ever attended.

If art is about transformation, then I am completely changed.

I watched in amazement as Russian singer, Stepanida Borisova from Far Northern Yakutia turned from small woman with innuit features into torch-singing, Valkyrie-like Arctic diva. Her shamanic incantation – backed by Norwegian and Finnish jazz drummers and percussionists is the most amazing performance I've ever seen in my life. And she's on again tonight. I have made it my mission to get her into this year's Edinburgh Festival. Help gratefully received and here's a badly shot video of her in action.

Twelve indigenous Arctic artists performed from three different stages around the auditorium allowing a seamlessly transition from one haunting sound to another, without the disruptive effect of a presenter or MC. The result was a transportation to life on the ice – on both sides of the old Iron Curtain and both sides of the Atlantic. Olga Letykai Csonka was on next – a fur-swathed, face-painted, petite black-haired woman who used her voice, throat and chest to mimic every bird, bear and human emotion whilst dancing in soaring, swooping sensuous movements around the stage like a tumbling eagle.

The massive auditorium itself tells an unbelievable story. The mountain hall was first excavated by the Germans in the Second World War as a bunker. It was then extended by the townspeople, to guard against possible Soviet nuclear attack and it is now playing host to Russian artists, united across language barriers and geography by the Foreign Ministry of the Norwegian government in a hall that was built to keep them out!

Anyway, more later. But if you are interested in the festival check out the Barents website www.barentsspektakel.no/eng