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| Journalist Ian Bell |
“Brave New Words’
In times of turmoil words are a safety net, help us to shared understandings.
In times of turmoil words are a safety net, help us to shared understandings.
Edinburgh
International Book festival 2017, 12th - 28th August - https://www.edbookfest.co.uk
The festival, begun in 1983 and is one of the world's biggest, will have 1000 authors from 50 countries and will host Illustrators, musicians, scientists, politicians, scientists, children authors and more.
The festival, begun in 1983 and is one of the world's biggest, will have 1000 authors from 50 countries and will host Illustrators, musicians, scientists, politicians, scientists, children authors and more.
Some famous
authors this year will include - Zadie Smith, Judy Murray, Chris Hoy Jeremy Paxman,
Patrick Ness, Chinnamanda Ngozi Adiccline.
**MUSIC – this year - Fiddler Aidan O’Rourke; Scott Hutchison, The Frightened Rabbit frontman; composer Sally Beamish. Music previously has included Alfred Brendel, Nile
Rogers and more.
Words and stories
are our passports to a better fairer world. Imagination is Free! Whether the
words are carried in song, in poetry, in political ideas, in images, fairy
tales, history, theories, journalism, truth or in stories.
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| Lesley Riddoch |
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| Liz Lochend |
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| Iain MacWhirter |
Recently, In
Grenfell Tower block Kensington, we all witnessed the most horrific fire, where
probably hundreds must have died! (yet the first reports claimed only 6 – was
this all a cover up?)
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| Ben Okria |
How this
tall burnt out blackened shell is a metaphor for our failings – our failings to
recognise the CLADDING on our very discourse. He says - We need to
tear down this cladding and open our eyes to what is around us.
There are signs of hope – more people are reaching for investigative journalism where they can find it!
There are signs of hope – more people are reaching for investigative journalism where they can find it!
The young
especially are now disregarding traditional news media and searching for
answers elsewhere. Macron started a new political party only one year ago – and
won the vote. Things are changing fast in our fast interconnected world.
Enlightened discourse
is always about diversity! And the book festival encourages open questioning and
debate. Robert Burns ran his own
Debating clubs at Tarbolton.
We must
question opposite viewpoints. We live in complex times but there are gate
keepers out here. We must question opposite viewpoints. Its worrying Theresa May actively dislikes 'division!' It is our very diversity that makes us stronger.
Words and
ideas. TICKETS NOW ON SALE - https://www.edbookfest.co.uk
In Edinburgh
old town, the grand, the ordinary, the eccentric – all rubbed shoulders. It was
this inconvenient bumping against each other that helped to make the Scottish Enlightenment
happen.
Another
factor that brought in fresh air, was after the union of the crowns, the royal
court left for London! Which meant a breath of fresh air – as all he hangers on
left too.
Poet Robert
Burns experienced the flourishing Edinburgh in its last days (1786 – 1787)
They built
the Georgian Edinburgh new town in the 1780s – finishing with the elegant Charlottes
Square. The largest and most impressive Georgian development in the world. In
Glasgow the marble staircased Town hall is vastly impressive – built over this
period, when the tobacco and slave trade brought great benefit. There was also
great expectations.
The well to do no longer mixed …. and the Enlightenment withered.
The well to do no longer mixed …. and the Enlightenment withered.
