 |
| Karine Polwart |
This was a diverse, imaginative and
inspired talk.
McEachan spoke of a
greater sense of civic responsibility towards and by younger people, who were volunteering more. Start a community group, the money is there. He spoke of Scotland’s future forum the technical
influences on society. He felt that Quantitative GDP numbers are not so
important. He said there was so much soul destroying work many young people are
enduring today – of what we value about people – we care about respect,
compassion, warmth …
The Enlightenment economist Adam Smith did not
only write of economics, he also wrote, The 'Theory
of moral Statements of Human Empathy’. He also campaigned against slavery.
Karine gave us a
few stories. The drinking dens of Edina where ideas got fermented and
exchanged. The star poet Robert Fergusson, was invited to elite circles. He was
friends with psychiatrist Andrew Duncan, who was devoted to the Royal Edinburgh
hospital. Sadly he died young. After the death of Fergusson he used his
influence to found a mental health institute. She spoke of the transformative
effect of open spaces to meet in real life people not always like ourselves.
Chris Van
Der Kuyh (Dundee Games industry) said we were loosing tools – is technology
making things too easy? He has worked on Minecraft Game for 7 years. The games industry requires ability to think in a different way – for
entrepreneurship and not accepting the status quo and for creating the
impossible. Walter Scott shone a light on Scotland.
They discussed the importance of
a ‘Collaborative culture.’
The future is not about political voices – rather it will be team based.
Politics goes in circles and does not get the big ideas. We must decide on the
values for Scotland; mentor young people; share access and international
collaboration.
