The latest updates to the site Will be listed here. Most recent at the top. Use the left hand site map for specific searches
| What do you think of and how do you use the City Strolls website? City Strolls New Website Users Feedback and Participation |
| Workshops
for an active creative community Woodside Halls, Sunday 1st June, 3pm Glenfarg St. / Clarendon St. |
COMMON
GOOD DAY SCOTLAND (Edinburgh) The Canongate Project 8 St Mary's Street Edinburgh (Just off royal mile) |
CCA
film night for the Dear Green Place |
| Has
society turned its back on itself? Initially, it was a little hard to figure out what lay behind the BBC decision to commission The White Season. But when taking on board the subsequent general air of BBC defensiveness, it is probably fair to assume it hasn’t worked out exactly as planned. |
| The
Canongate Project The Canongate Project Launches: 6 week long innovative programme Take a day out in Edinburgh with the weans, or go for a walk around the old town. A full program of fun from May 3 to 14 June Canongate Community Doing it for Themselves |
| The
Tesco Public Local Inquiry (PLI) |
| Given
to the People Friday 18th April - Sunday 20th April GalGael Boatyard for Google Map As part of the Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Visual Art, Artist Simon Yuill explores the story of Pollok Free State through film combining original footage, interviews with Free State participants, and specially composed music by Glasgow band Foxface. Friday 18th April 2008, 7pm. Special launch event, showing the film with live music from Foxface. Saturday 19th April 2008 Screenings of film. 1pm to 5pm. Sunday 20th April 2008 Screenings of film and public discussion. 1pm to 5pm, talk starts at 3pm. All events FREE |
| Everyone's
at it! The Rentier Economy & the Morality of the Cultural Industries 17 April Following a discussion of the problem of rent for capitalism - from Smith via Marx and Keynes to Buchanan - Valentine outlines the role of rent in contemporary neo-liberal capitalism and its links to practices of 'value capture'. A talk by Jeremy Valentine (from Media, Communication & Sociology; QMU, Edinburgh) Thurs 17 April, 6pm - all welcome Venue: STUC (Scottish Trades Union Congress) 333 Woodlands Road Glasgow G3 6NG |
| On
the subject of the rentier society Gregory King cleans up While the banks whine about the credit crunch, one Glasgow entrepreneur is making big money |
| Views
From The Peak 27 April 2008 - Queens Park Allotment – Midday Onwards Peak Oil and Glasgow Discs, bring instruments and bring food. Thinking Transition |
| The
Question |
| Even frogs get better consultation about parks than the public do (Botanic's) |
Reshuffle May 17th. |
| Graham Meldrum
Memorial Campaign HARD WORK NEVER KILLED ANYONE..? Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Graham Meldrum begins 17th March, Glasgow Sheriff Court |
| Greenspace
Forum - Next Meeting-agenda Saturday 29th March 2008, from 11am - 1pm, in Broomhill. Please meet at entrance to the Anniesland College Annexe at Balshagray Campus, 27 Broomhill Avenue, Glasgow, G11 7AE. |
| New links of interest - Urban regeneration and housing The Public Interest Research Network The network is not a think tank or a lobby group. It does not take corporate funding. Its members are committed to uncovering the truth behind the spin and evasion which clogs up much public debate. Also: Sarah Glynn page School of GeoSciences |
| Refugee
Information Sessions (details) Positive Action in Housing's New Migrants Action Project is organising information sessions for refugees recently granted leave to remain, particularly those granted status via the case resolution (legacy) programme. |
| Dead
Frogs in the Botanics Wildlife lovers say frogs are dying after pond axed |
Deadly
Cargo - New Camcorder Guerillas Film (flier) |
| Pink
Elephants in the Botanic's. (Avoid seeing what the council want's you to see |
| How
To Start Your Own TV Channel workshop at the Electron Club upstairs in the CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD Open workshop with basic guide on how to stream live video to large amounts of people on the internet with minimum cost. Date: Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 Time: 19:00-21:00 All welcome Free |
The
common Good in Scotland Film |
| The disappearing bees Interesting research on bees (pdf) |
A
council answerable to no one? |
| Local People Leading – Position Statement on Community Empowerment: Draft January 2008 LPLWebsite |
January Reshuffle pictures. (More to come and video soon) They
will never tell us when we succeed EDINBURGH
NEEDS YOU |
| Friends of parks here... |
Shopping
Town USA: Victor Gruen, the Cold War, and the shopping mall
|
Save
Our Botanic's
To oppose, by campaigning, supporting legal action, or by any other legal
means, the proposed development by G1 Group PLC or its subsidiaries to
develop a site within the Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, by the construction
of a nightclub, café, restaurant, and conference centre (or any
part thereof);
Independent
Republic of the Canongate
Edinburgh campaigners showing us the way then? And the could
teach us a few lessons in joind-up-campaigning to. Meet some of our friends
from the east at the Jan Reshuffle. See some of what they're up against
here. EH8
Lets
bang some pots and pans and kick out a few Governments.
"The social movements that exploded in Argentina that December not
only transformed the fabric of Argentine society but also highlighted
the possibility of a genuinely democratic alternative to global capital.
Horizontalism: Voices of Popular Power in Argentina is the story
of those movements, as told by the men and women who are building them."
Author, activist, Marina Sitrin, Interview Sunny Govan (audio)
January Reshuffle -08
A meeting place to pop in for a chat, a bowl of hot food. Let the kids
mess around with some creative play. You could take in a film or join
a discussion or listen to a talk about our Common Good. The Reshuffle
is free and participatory - there is plenty scope for joining in and helping.
Meet some new people, or bring a friend. Relax on the cafe's luxury sofas
- find out about what's happening throughout the year.
Common
good a concern for us all
"The press has been littered with cases where there has
been public outcry that the council is trying to sell or develop ground
that is not theirs to do so. Many of these protests focus on land and
property classified as "for the common good". Whether it is plans to develop
Glasgow's Botanic Gardens or Edinburgh's controversial blueprints for
Caltongate, there are persistent claims that councils are disregarding
the safeguards surrounding common good assets."
LASAAC has now released the final guidance on accounting for the common good. The guidance, entitled Accounting for the Common Good: A Guidance Note for Practitioners was the subject of an successful initial consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The guidance sets out consistent and modern financial reporting requirements as well as prescribing, for the first time, the formal requirement for asset registers.
Glasgow Corporation Common Good 1914
An account of Glasgow's Common Good written by the Town Clerk, John Lindsay, and published by the Corporation of the City of Glasgow in 1914.
PDFs If you want to look use this one 72dpi Small. If you want to print or more detail use this one.300dpi Big. 21MB
Letter sent to the 'Herald' earlier this week for publication, following the latest City Council report on Common Good "Citizens of Glasgow should be extremely concerned about the inability of the Chief Executive to provide an accurate Asset Register of Common Good property"
Accounting and Reporting For The Common Good Fund
Purpose of Report. To advise members of the current debate concerning the accounting for, and disclosure of, the Common Good Fund accounts. (Glasgow City Council PDF)
Save our Glen (Community campaigning and history)
This site was set up as a result of the recent attempts to commercially develop Pittencrieff Park (The Glen) and the massive outpouring of public opposition to that move.
We will get "nightclubs" in your park whether we like it or not.
Culture and sports tacky earners abusing public facilities. Neither Culture or sport. New York tat for £59 95. in Kelvingrove park
New Common Good website - With CG Quick guide
"I am also looking for correspondents - people who can act as a contact for the exchange of information on common good in specific burghs. If you or anyone you know would like to be one, let me know - it involves being named on the relevant burgh page (but no contact details unless you wish otherwise). In the longer term I envisage a correspondents conference of all correspondents in scotland's 196 and more burghs. " Andy Whightman
The Spine
As HM Revenue & Customs loses 25 million confidential records in the post, the programme to introduce a centralised NHS database slouches on, only delayed by a classically wasteful PFI project. Total data transparency may be good for corporations and security obsessed governments, but what does it mean for the recipients of 'joined-up care'?, asks Damian Abbott
The Herald whoring for the motorway again
(sorry, "setting out the overwhelming economic case" for a road that cuts our distribution costs a wee bit). [M74] The city that is still building it's dream on a primitive technology that is poisoning the planet. The excuse: It will create jobs; It will unblock the traffic, Bullshit - It will create vast profits for the contractors. The employees will be imported for the duration of the construction and will then disappear out of town along with the profits and our subsidies. The only things that will increase for people - is the pollution, the traffic, the 4x4s from the suburbs and the intercity shopaholics, who will drive any distance for a bargain - and of course the Business and property section of the Herald. That's the " overriding economic case"
GPs threaten to block national patient database
One in two GPs have signalled their intention not to upload patients' clinical details to the NHS Care Records Service (NCRS) without explicit patient consent, in direct opposition to Department of Health (DH) policy.
Washing Machine Misery
Cleanliness is next to healthiness " Tenants in high flats across Glasgow have been left without working washing machines. To do a wash, their machines have to be filled by hand with water.
Glasgow Housing Association know about the problem, and know how to fix it. But shockingly, GHA are stalling with the fixes."
GalGael re-visits the "Pollok Free State" on the anniversary
of Colin Mcleod's birthday and GalGael's 10th year. This picture was
taken in the same woodlands a few hundred yards away from the motorway
the community of Pollok fought so hard to stop.
Worth fighting for pictures
here Sound
and Poems here
"It is no secret that I am a life-long admirer of America. I have no
truck with anti-Americanism in Britain or elsewhere in Europe and I
believe that our ties with America - founded on values we share - constitute
our most important bilateral relationship. And it is good for Britain,
for Europe and for the wider world that today France and Germany and
the European Union are building stronger relationships with America."
More
US Brown nosing here
Climate
March Join the people of over 60 other countries on calling
on there politicians to prevent catastrophic climate change.
Common Good Sites (Protection)
(PE1050)
SAVE OUR PARKS Deadline
extended again to 16/11/07
The
medium is the message - Council creeping ( gLNews)
What devious plot can these Children be up to? Could this experiment cut down to size one of the worlds biggest corporations?
The first word begins with C. The second is Cola!
Save Our Schools (objections-to-new superschool + comments) comments.html If you haven't had a chance yet to communicate your objections to the new superschool to the planning department, try to do so soon, before the end of this week.
Common Good Land
In recent years the idea of community ownership of land and assets has been enthusiastically embraced by politicians across the UK and particularly in Scotland.
How to untie the knot
The need for appropriate ownership and access regimes
Toby Lloyd Land &Liberty Autumn /Winter 2002/3
Wednesday: Podcast Interview with Tery one of Doc 5 Group
Tuesday: Podcast, from "Broth Mix Cafe" at Doc 5
Cloud cuckoo land from the games bid "Games car free "
Why are the trying to build a dirty great motorway then?
"Most of Glasgow's venues would be within 20 minutes of the athletes' village in the East end of the city. By 2014 the 500 million pound M74 extension, the Glasgow Airport rail link, and the 69 million pound East End regeneration route should be completed.
More than 10,000 athletes, officials and journalists will travel in buses using dedicated "Games Lanes" where traffic lights will turn green to speed up journeys " We Don't Back the Bid - Sign here
More Granfallooning (for public consensus) up the Maryhill canal. Come on children get a nice balloon and see the shiny lights, because you won't be able to afford a house here when you grow up. More Illuminating links Here and Here PDF
Stop the Council Cuts Edinburgh
Edinburgh's SNP and Lib Dem Council planned to close 6 Nurseries, 13 Primary Schools, 3 High Schools and 4 Community Centres - we stopped them. But what's next?
Peoples Speeches
Aye there's hope yet when the folk get the fire in there belly and speak out for there own kind of change. Edinburgh people telling there council what they think of the the council cuts and the gentrification for their city. More here from: Save Our Old Town on Caltongate plans
the fat cats profit from it.
The Shock Doctrine: Naomi Klein on the Rise of Disaster Capitalism
"I get an increasing number of emails from folk concerned about how common good assets are being managed (or not in many cases). This is encouraging and a sign that awareness and interest is growing. It is probably time to create some kind of structured campaign or network and these appear to be emerging in Edinburgh and Glasgow (see Friday 11 May news below). I'll leave it to others to take the initiative here. My role is to undertake research and analysis."
A Wightman
Common Good Land - Progress
This page highlights key news in the campaign to recover common good land for the citizen.
When the bubble bursts Will our Common Good be used by the council to pay off the social and financial debts that are left when the money sponge leaves town - taking the jobs and promises with it? You bet they will. C.S.
Are we about to pick up the tab for the financial elite's decades long free lunch? And if total monetary collapse is a way off, is this because the social crisis and repression we already face are deepening? Whose crisis is it anyway, and if it comes, who is going to come out on top?
"This is a unique and exciting opportunity to unearth some of the history of Glasgow... ...an added benefit to the many that the M74 will bring to the West of Scotland. Photos on flick
FAQs are entertaining Check 15 - 18
Gentrification - An Overview (Part One)
Maryhill - the future of a working class community in North West Glasgow
Olympic Games and Housing Rights
Our anger at the many examples of communities and individuals who had been forcibly evicted from their homes and lands in order to make way for sports stadiums, new hotels, car parks, or pretty façades,
Dispatches : Britain's Bad Housing .
The Government doesn't care where you live; whose house gets knocked down, how much the Labour party receives in back handers from developers.
The Supermarket that's Eating Britain
Who needs ID cards when you got Tesco's
The Chrichton campus campaign
A successful campaign against the axing of an institute of learning - Timescale for the campaign
Families of Stockline victims call for new law
Families of workers who died in Scotland's worst industrial accident in a generation yesterday called for new corporate killing laws and condemned the financial penalty imposed on the operators of the factory involved.
SOOT The Canongate Community Forum is campaigning against Edinburgh City Council's plans to demolish listed buildings and people's homes in the Canongate Remember you can be any age, nationality and live anywhere to comment on Planning Applications. Read on
Little things
It's the little things that count. The wee bits and pieces that slowly disappear each day and before you know it they are gone for ever.
While our city falls to blite our city council are busy, not putting it to right but organising business people and big events organisers to come in and take it over.
Wobblies
The Scottish Exec may take the credit but it was the grassroots campaign of students & workers at Crichton backed up by the UCU and IWW (industrial Workers of the World) which kept the issue alive and refused to accept Muir Russell's plans, which created the possibility of this decision being reversed
Edinburgh schools campaign forces SNP retreat
School students protest outside Bonnington primary school in Edinburgh (Pic: Kate Tomlinson) A vigorous campaign by parents and pupils has put a stop to Edinburgh city council's proposal to close one in six schools.
Entremundos Radio
For five years, Entremundos has been a hub and contact point for volunteers and Non Governmental Organisations, in this culturally rich but
historically troubled part of Guatemala. The Western Highlands, overwhelmingly indigenous Mayan, were a bastion of resistance to the military dictatorship during the Civil War
Life in Wine Alley (Brian McQuade)
I was born in 1950 and brought up in Govan in the Moorepark housing estate or the Wine Alley, as it was commonly known. It was regarded at the time as perhaps the worst slum in Britain, and the people who lived there were treated like vermin by the authorities whom we treated likewise. It was a 'them and us' attitude that persisted right up until the Wine Alley was demolished in the late 1990's.
Maybe the megaphone is to try and tell the council leader something he doesn't want to hear, about how the staff feel [and the public] about the councils senior management. pdf Who knows what they will come up with next in these developing times pdf.
War On Drugs; The Prison Industrial Complex
If this doesn't scare folk and make you wonder where neoliberalism will take us, as we follow the USA model. Don't know what will.
You can watch, read or listen here for the following details
"In 1996 in Atlanta, keep it in this country. You had, according to the ACLU, 10,000 black homeless men arrested without cause, and you had a scandalous situation that they swept under the rug where police were found to fill out arrest slips in advance of arresting people... ...you know, ironically this image of the new South that President Clinton attempted to project at the 1996 Olympics."
How come they didn't ask "City Strolls" if it backed the bid?
Is there anyone out there who was asked to back the bid? We would be interested to know how the question was put. Don't Back The Bid!
Glasgow Core Paths Plan (More creeping )
Is the intention to replace in the public consciousness the concept of rights of way with that of core paths 'giving' access - which gift might subsequently be bureaucratically revoked, whenever it is felt desirable so to do, by those who consider themselves to be our masters?
Common good assets being given to new leisure Trust?
For the attention of Ronnie Hinds, CEO Fife Council
Please find below for your information a copy of an e-mail sent to all 78 councillors in Fife.
Aborigines lose welfare appeal right
THE Commonwealth will remove normal rights of appeal for Aborigines in the Northern Territory, prevent customary law being considered in sentencing and give itself open-ended powers to acquire land or ban alcohol under legislation to be introduced to Parliament today. (No surprises there then)
More News and Facts at Don't Back The Bid!
Keep your eye on those facts and figures
Final push backing Scotland's Bid for 2014 Commonwealth Games - Steven Purcell and Nicola Sturgeon [video]
Ironically those who will lose most in Purcell's corporate profit making scheme, are the very kids he is using to sell it
We only hear of the victors of the "business" games, never the victims
(Olympics Greece)"You won't hear about it in NBC's gauzy coverage, but Amnesty International estimates that anywhere between 40 and 150 construction workers died in work place accidents building Olympic facilities. The new center right government of Costas Karamanlis, terrified of international embarrassment for not having a modernized infrastructure, turned the screws to finish facilities by any means necessary"
Graham Meldrum Memorial Campaign Don't Let Employers Get Away With Murder 9.30am, Thurs 2nd August Demonstration - Glasgow Sheriff Court, Carlton Place (adjacent to Mosque)
Full campaign details here
Campaign (PDF) Flyer Back (PDF)
Other information:
Families Against Corporate killers
Corporate Accountability
Simon Jones campaign
Health and safety executive
Hazards Campaign
schnews Casual Killers
Corporatewatch
IWW Union
STUC- Ian Tasker- Tasker@stuc.org.uk
"Inappropriate to local needs" Halifax's failed bid for the Commonwealth Games
(Report PDF) From the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives , a report issued in March 2007 about Halifax's failed bid for the Commonwealth Games: Take heed Glasgow.
From: Don't Back The Bid!
Faslane 365 Big Blockade 1st October 2007 It is an issue that cuts across all others, the £70 billion they have voted to spend on renewing Trident would easily solve the health, housing and environment problems in Glasgow and could be invested to create enterprise that people want.
History from below (Event)
The phrase 'history from below' is the product of a group of French
historians known as the Annales school. It is their description of an
approach to subjects and areas previously considered historically
unimportant... ... we take this loose grouping as the starting point for the making and study of history as a contested field in which 'the below' plays an active role.
Say bye bye - Let the Great Privatisation begin...
The following Culture and Sport Glasgow tenders are available on PublicTenders.net. They reveal officially - for the first time - the real extent of the potential impending danger to the private company's 2,500 current employees. (GlasgowLOST)
Is there anyone involved in campaigns concerning Common Good issues, or want to start or join one, help out in one. Remember the CG covers a lot of ground. It will affect us all probably sooner rather than later - particularly in Glasgow where the privatisation plans are much more advanced than elsewhere. Email Bob@citystrolls.com
SAFEGUARD YOUR COMMON GOOD ASSETS NATION-WIDE
From our Edinburgh friends
Some people have taken the time to collect addresses and present ideas for letters, organise petitions - and work ceaselessly to try and protect our Common Good. But "we" also need to say what we think.
Now there are official folk who can do, and have to do things when we register our complaints or queries. But if they don't know (i.e. we don't tell them) they can do nothing about anything. Here is some advice on how to go about having your say. It's easy:
"Concerned individuals and community organisations are now in a position to begin a fight back! You are urged to write to the Chief Executive of your local council asking for accurate, up-to-date information on common good assets held on your behalf by your local authority. Use this link [ChiefExecs.PDF] to obtain the name and address of the relevant chief executive; below are skeleton sample" letters and further information and advice.
Kennington Park birthplace of People's Democracy
Public Executions * A Radical Black Methodist * The World's First National Labour Movement * The Chartists * the Significance of 10th April 1848 * The World's First Photograph of a Crowd * The Occupation of Our Common by the Royal Park * The Horns Tavern and Charlie Chaplin * The Princess of Wales Theatre * The Scandal the Unmarked War Grave * The Squatters * 'Red Ted' * The Return of the Commons Spirit
Galgael at the River Festival 14-15-July 11-6 pm
All this weekend Galgael will be highlighting there skills crafts music and community by the banks of the Clyde at the science centre. This year they will be joined by the Kinningpark arts for a double bill of fun and doing things. No excuses for somewhere to go, or to take the weans this weekend. And you will get the chance to see GalGael's new marquee which will be available for hire in the future!
Last years pictures 2007 Program
Klondike park
In case people are unaware the authorities are proposing to build a school in Kelvingrove Park. The experts see the idea as a wonderful opportunity, most parents and locals involved see the idea as stupid. I find it difficult to waste time on their reasoning for this school anymore. The basic difference is. One side want there kids to go to a safe, secure, local educational, environment and the other can only think of how to make money from anything, (that's public) they can get there hands on.
Well done to the people of South Lanarkshire!
Victory of the people versus the planners
Andy Wightman
The Story of the Edinburgh Common Good Fund (audio)
"Across Scotland, hundreds of millions of pounds in funds and capital assets are missing from Common Good Funds. This wealth belongs to the people and this talk will highlight how this state of affairs has come about and what should be done about it." The story of all our Common Good funds
O Rose, thou art sick!
Outsourcing Glasgow's Cultural & Leisure Services. Variant
On April Fools' Day , Glasgow City councillors rushed through the removal of the City's entire Cultural and Leisure Services and staff from the control of the people and delivered them into the hands of bankers: the Charitable Trust and Trading Company 'Culture and Sport Glasgow'. Drawing on UNISON and activist sources this is an otherwise missing public account of the hiving off of Glasgow's common good. PDF
Variant 29 Summer 2007
All you want to know about Brand Street Immigration Centre but were afraid to ask
Haringey Federation of Residents Associations
a wee taster of just what is possible when we get together and build democratic structures where residents groups and campaigners can come together, free from political interference or bureaucracy, which can help us co-ordinate and gain a real say in our communities, Haringey Federation of Residents Associations have produced a new film, which stands as an example of just what is possible.
Glasgow Residents Network: See here for summer Conference. If you want to help also(or make a film even): 07976718111
10 things you should know about Culture and Sport
LAND REFORM EXPERT TO GIVE EDINBURGH LECTURE
Andy Wightman, an author and researcher who has been campaigning on the Edinburgh Common Good Fund for the past 18 months, will be the speaker. He said: "Across Scotland, hundreds of millions of pounds in funds and capital assets are missing from Common Good Funds. This wealth belongs to the people and this talk will highlight how this state of affairs has come about and what should be done about it.
The Story of the Common Good Fund", will take place at St Stephens Centre, St Stephens Street on Wednesday 27 June at 19:30 BST.
Call For Submissions Document 5 presents a platform for both established & emerging documentary filmmakers to screen their work at the only UK festival dedicated to raising awareness of international human rights issues.
People talking People talking People talking People talking audio
Common Good for Beginners
If you don't know what the "Common Good" is, especially if your young, and haven't heard the term. Hopefully the following will help in understanding it better - through ideas and sequence of events of what privatisation, in general and of the Common Good, can mean.
From River City to Spin City
Mr Doherty said: "I'm delighted to join a team which is constantly delivering an outstanding service for the people of Glasgow and look forward to building on that success." [Which people though?...]
May 6th March Pictures
Election time is upon us
How does the situation of the Common Good stand among the jiggery-pokery of election campaigning.
Glasgow Residents Network: Hustings - The Future of Glasgow's Communities Audio recording
More here eh8.org.uk
GRN Hustings - The Future of Glasgow's Communities
Do you want to highlight an issue going on in your community? Do you feel what passes for a political debate never talks about your community's problems and concerns? Here's your chance to raise your issues for once in a high profile public debate! The Glasgow Residents' Network and the Scottish Tenants' Organisation
Privatised MAY DAY
Maybe they will have bouncers at the door to keep out undesirables who are found discussing politics during the acts
| Do you ever wonder what these kind of items have in common | |
| GLASGOW has netted a £42m tourism jackpot through its Scotland with style campaign. Ambitious £180m bid to revamp prime city waterfront site A leading house builder wants to transform... |
'Instant Asbos' plan in Labour's crime purge Police would be able to issue "instant Asbos" against thugs without having to go to court under Labour plans if it wins next month's Scottish Parliament election. |
The Common Sense of the Common Good
If there's a positive side to the issue of the Common Good. It is, the transfer is reminding folk that the Common Good exists. There is no reason that this decision can't be reversed with enough public pressure, if that's what the public want. Nothing unusual in this, it's happened before. (Check the forum. Let's hear what you think.)
Govanhill Baths Community Trust (update)
No we have not disappeared we have been busy on various projects and the Friends of the Baths have been meeting every 2nd and fourth Tuesday and building towards the submission of the Business Plan the council requested for end of July after granting us a 99 year lease last September.
GlasgowLOST New website on loss of "Common Good"
So we have to be advised on how to run our Common Good by an American Neo Con. I suppose it figures. Why can't we have someone from Hugo Chávez's, Venezuela, or someplace that supports democratic ideas.
"Common Good Games" booth at GalGael Govan. Come to Buchanan Street on Thursday between 12:00 and 2:00. Have some fun and create awareness of the Common Good and what it means.
Common Good Links (Updated regularly)
It's our City "we" need to look after it. There are no "new" leaders of any political persuasion who are going to do it for us. People collectively created the Common Good, and only through our collective vigilance to protect it, will it survive and be of benefit to the next generation. If Any leader tells you they they can do this for you - They're lying.
Workers City ( Glasgow: European City of Culture 1990)
In the light of the hard facts of life as it is lived by people at the bottom of the heap in Glasgow, it is difficult to see the 'culture' tag as being anything other than a sham accolade to help grease the wheels of capitalist enterprise and smooth the path for the politicians. It is little wonder working-class Glasgow remains unimpressed.
Petition by Councillor Ann Watters, on behalf of Kirkcaldy Civic Society, calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to introduce legislation to provide better protection for common good sites
Privatising Culture
A One-Day Symposium hosted by Variant Magazine CCA, Glasgow 31 March 2007 . 10.30 - 5pm . FREE
Come to the symposium on Saturday, the more you know about this stuff, the more inclined you will be to recognise the future repercussions it will have for the the city and it's citizens futures.
Common Good Games (Unprivatising Culture)
Who's up for the "Common Good Games" Help to create awareness of our heritage, our history and future well being, through enjoyable activities, that all can join in.
What they will tell you (Privatising Culture)
The patronising reply to a letter concerning the cultural sell-off. Privatisation was only a thing Thatcher did and the public only own some bits of the public estate?
What they are telling the staff (Privatising Culture)
"Welcome to this special edition of Contact magazine, which is dedicated to updating you on Culture and Sport Glasgow, the new company responsible for delivering cultural, leisure and outdoor recreation services in Glasgow." (Inhouse magazine updates for council workers
City Strolls on Sunny Govan Radio April 2nd (Common Good)
Set your alarms, put it in your diaries, tune your radio's to 103.5 FM Sunny Govan Community Radio will launch our full-time FM schedule on Wednesday 28th March 2007 . Please keep checking the website as more details will be announced shortly. Normal programming continues online.
Housing News posted April 07
Links to various housing issues
Overcrowded Schools Protest
Come and protest against overcrowded schools on this Wednesday 21st March at 3pm at Dowanhill Primary!
Council Real Estate
Kelvingrove Park needs a cafe like a hole in the head. Man your tripping over cafes on the way into the park on all sides.
Shades of Park Privatisation & positive alternatives
Here are some ideas to help to understand how we are coned out of Common Good land and property. Why can't they
Govan Film Festival
ViewPoints free film festival, Glasgow
Films, talks and film workshops exploring migration and asylum themes.
The Burgh Angel 5th edition will soon hit the street. If you have news that you think we should be talking about let us know. Check website for details Get your place on the map.
Also. If you would like to go down to Glasgow City Council with a wheelbarrow and collect your share of the "Common Good" before they sell it. let me know and we could all go down together.Free Science things. The Runaway Universe. Full program
Glasgow City Council Pathfinder for Cultural and Leisure Services Outline Business Case - 8. Key risks
Plans of how the City Council mean to speed up the privatisation of public owned, property and services, before anybody twigsMore Updates & Links added What the unions are saying & Leisure Trust Failure
What are we waiting for
"I can't imagine one wee town, in the whole of the Western Hemisphere, who wouldn't be rioting in the streets, if it were happening to them."
Council plans on museums 'against party policy
The policy states: "We will look at ways to ensure the legitimate incentives that apply to charities are not used as vehicles for outsourcing by local authorities."
Letters to Herald "Common Good" (pdf)
Common Good Asset Register
Reply to letter sent to George Black Chief Executive: A range of legal agreements will govern the services to be delivered by the company including arts and museums, libraries and community facilities, sport, events and social renewal.
The buildings that Glasgow is proposing to hand over
to the new charity. How many do you think belong to the people of Glasgow?
Is Glasgow doing enough to preserve its parks?
Evening Times Survey Someone suggests "Maybe the City Council would have done better if the question was: "Is Glasgow doing enough to sell-off its parks?"..." 16% yes 83 % No
Links on related stuff "Common Good"
What the unions are saying - Leisure Trust Failure
Woodlands Community Council Response
to 107 flats and car park.At Park Quadrant. Tom Johnstone for Woodlands/Park Community Council in defense of Charles Wilson's Park Circus architecture. (pf)
Rushed decision to transfer control
M E Mackenzie (February 27) is right to draw attention once again to the woeful lack of information and prior consultation by Glasgow City Council regarding the transfer of control of certain services and assets to a separate charitable company.
Subterranean home sick blues Selling the "Common Good"
Herald letters
Good news for City Strolls from - Common Wheel
Special needs cyclists - Canals - Rickshaws - Access.
Although the corporate bulldozer is smashing apart our communities, there are positive examples here and there of projects actually making good things happen and of space opening up for leisure and free time.
Who's selling who? "Times Exclusive"
It would seem the Evening times bears more allegiance to its developer friends than it does to it's readers. In publishing a free, three page, advert, condemning those who stand in the way of the developers steamroller. (Note the Times will usually only seem to defend buildings after they are knocked down and safely out of the way, re: "Partick, Tesco, station building" ) When they are still standing and a threat to Mr Purcell's grand plan of, Selling us down the river, the newspaper will dedicate as much uncritical column space as it takes. Interesting to note though, is the readers comments on the article which mostly show anger for the Times and the developers, arguments. Who knows maybe the Glasgow public are wakening up to what is actually happening in their city. I hope they do - before it is completely given over to a circus of bullshit and profiteers. (New Tradeston?)
Critical Mass Pollution
The creeping begins, as the cities jewels start to slip from its hands
We do not have the same fancy brochures to help save our parks from predatory business as they have for selling them. If we don't start talking and spreading the word between each other to protect them, the parks will soon be run down to blight level, like so many parts of our city, in order that they can be saved for the profiteers, who are waiting the side-line...
From Hutchie E and beyond - Substandard building continues to help us become sick
Old people still die of the cold and our country, along with the rest of the UK "has the highest prevalence of asthma symptoms in 13-14 year olds in the world" There are 175,000 children living in cold, damp homes, according to the Scottish House Conditions Survey." The only thing that is up to insulation standard in this city, is the secrecy of the GCC and GHA in their accountability to their citizens and tenants - And the unaccountability didn't just begin yesterday.
Glasgow, believe it or not, belongs to us.
The law is only the law when dealing with the less well-off in our society. All else are above it and can flaunt the laws of the land with impunity. Whether it's the football pitch up the road, or the wee bit of green space that you take your eye off, for five minutes, the vultures of degeneration are in there.
HOUSING CONFERENCE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH 2007 Scottish Monitoring Group on Housing & Homelessness
www.monitoringscottishhousing.org.uk 9:30-10 Registration + latest housing news (Homes not houses)
Residents in the news - Struggles and victories Updates
Glasgow Residents Network Update. This month we have a few communications from different residents groups and campaigns and a lot of reports of activity to pass on, as well as our regular reports from the print media. Next month we will be featuring websites for Glasgow city residents associations - fire them in! Send us the URLs today.
Council votes for trust to run culture and leisure sector
Culture or casino's makes no difference to the new renaissance.
"We have to take the big decisions which leadership demands. If we don't grow this service this renaissance will be threatened." Purcell.
...Europe of the Renaissance, dominated as it was by the religion of popes, the government of kings, the frenzy for money that marked Western civilization ... Zinn.
Letters Herald
First of the spring city strolls. Down through Gotham City towards the river taking in the Anderson Centre - the community on stilts. Don't be guided - be the guide. If the weathers to bad have a coffee and a chat. CCA 17th Feb 12:00 Meet in cafe. All welcome. Free. Time. Hour and a half or so. (For "Neoliberal" put it in the search link on the left) Details
Simclar, Kilwinning
More jobs sold abroad no doubt. It's about time the workers took over the factories, it's the only way they will keep jobs in this country.
" Dunfermline-based Simclar blamed pressure from low-cost economies" Yeah right. Don't see any managers getting sacked. Crap redundancies, let the dust settle, open in China. Business as usual.
The Prison Industrial Complex and Modern Day Slavery
Millions of men, women and children around the world are in the 21st century still forced to lead lives as slaves - conservatively estimated to be 12 million, more than during the 19th century slave trade.
Hacking Democracy
Machines that manipulate your vote to keep people like bush in power. How come we don't have them here yet? (Learning from the USA)
What's behind the new gentrification of our cities.
This is a rundown of how the gentrification game works. Its from a Los Angeles based site. But don't worry, exactly the same formula is in use here. How do you think you will score in the game? What's the alternative? (Learning from the USA)
Selling off Glasgow - Privatising Culture
Your help is required for your city`s Common Good.
Sport
should be about encouraging, participation and local amenities, not about destroying them, in the name of sport.
"My garden is an allotment to be bulldozed for the 2012 Olympics."
Calling all gardeners - The Olympics are planning to demolish Manor Garden Allotments to make way for a video screen..........
London 2012 'to be greenest ever'
Are we talking greenbacks here. Believe this pap and you will believe anything. Couple of weeks of sport on the telly, destruction of communities
Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society
Cumbernauld Allotments Association
NEW YEAR RESHUFFLE - PEARCE INSTITUTE
Xmas is over, the January sales are dead, Farepak is forgotten, the money-grabbers are trying to get you thinking about summer holidays, there must be more to life than this...AND THERE IS!
COME AND DISCOVER A WHOLE NEW WORLD HIDING INSIDE THIS ONE
Save the internet
It happened withTelevision Radio Cable Now it's happening with the net. Save Net Neutrality!
"Max-Neef
classifies the fundamental human needs as: subsistence, protection, affection, understanding, participation, recreation (in the sense of leisure, time to reflect, or idleness), creation, identity and freedom. "
Howard Zinn on The Uses of History and the War on Terrorism
Change comes about when millions of people do little things, which at certain points in history come together, and then something good and something important happens.Watch or read' send to a friend. Democracy now
Dawn raids to carry on over Christmas
December 15th, 2006We have just been informed that the Home Office will continue its practice of dawn raids on Glasgow's asylum seeker families over the Christmas period.
The reverend Billy on consumption
Buy your presents locally, help the community not corporations.
Systemic banking education
Yep learning tried and tested schooling from our friends across the pond
Glasgow Residents Network Social
Residents Network Social - drinks, socialising, and a chance to meet other residents groups from across the city Saturday 16th, December
Mouse Eat Mouse
Hope the industry don't turn em into capitalists
A Power Governments Cannot Suppress
by Howard Zinn (interview new book)
Save Dowanhill school
Come along at 3 on thursday 7th at Dowanhill and 6.30 on Monday 11th at Hillhead High - bring banners and placards
Another 'dawn raid' in Glasgow was stopped on Sunday morning
After a lull of many weeks the Glasgow Immigration Enforcement Team resumed its brutal practise of raiding people's homes in the early hours of the morning.
Unity Diary
'"She doesn't recognise me", the man says. I spin around to look and I do remember him. It is the man from Sudan that I took to the hospital last week. "What's my name?" he says. I call him by his name and he is satisfied that I do remember... '
Pics from Climate Change Event - Walk to the Green
Check out the new Glasgow Art Calendar What's on and putting it on.
Liam Byrne came to Glasgow yesterday and received a warm welcome. Kind of . From noborders ( Glasgow-Events)
IMMIGRATION MINISTER to visit Scotland - THURSDAY 26th OCTOBER
A good chance to Protest dawn raids
2nd Conference of the Glasgow Residents Network - Glasgow community action discussion day
Michael Albert Lecture - Against Neo-Liberalism: A Vision for the Future
Not often, that one comes along with an actual alternative, to the system one wishes to get rid of. Albert offers up, Participatory Economics, as a replacement for capitalism. If you are interested in economics for human beings, this is a guy worth listening to. This won't be a dry speech, on formulas and figures, but a dynamic discussion by an eloquent speaker, on economics - in the interest of everyone.
Strolls pages on Parecon
RIB - RADICAL INDEPENDENT BOOK FAIR The Glasgow User Manual stall at the book fair. Come and have a look at the stalls and the films. On from Fri 13 to Mon16. Document 4 : Human Rights Film Festival Program
Propaganda
What the purveyors of state and business, propaganda are aware of much more than us, is...
Proaganda Blog
What was Freud's nephew (Edward Bernays) up to for 50 years.
Day of Action Pictures Asylum demo
Unity Come along and support the march for unity between people. Saturday Details
"I just don't care OK"
Social suicide, in the age of "the crazies"
The proposed humongous Tesco at Yorkhill
deadline for objections is tomorrow! 29 Sep
Tescopoly Every little hurts
Address to the United Nations
Rise Up Against the Empire
By HUGO CHAVEZ (from Counter Punch)
Spot of Gardening
Linwoodsucks Can we fix it
Why not start a campaign for your area
Glasgow Residents Groups Network
" If you're involved in a residents group of some sort then get involved with the network. "
Glasgow and West Parks and Green Spaces Action Network
A first statement
Vacant
Photos from the archive
Keep Christopher Columbus, out of our parks
The
Neocolonialists are at the gates of our parks.
The SPOILS can currently be seen as part of the exhibition PETROTYRANNY
Free Association is an ongoing project linking current art with a living, critical archive charting new directions and recovering some of the avantgarde legacies of Scottish culture
EK new town
An interesting architectural photo essay on East Kilbride
Stuart Murray
Stuart Murray's work is highly observational with a strong element of social commentary.
Variant
... the free arts and culture magazine.
In-depth coverage in the context of broader social, political & cultural issues.
The Drouth
Transmissions
Transmission was set up in 1983 by graduates from Glasgow School of Art
AK Press Better than buying from Borders
Workers Education Association Events
Glasgow User Manual - New Website
Get your place on the map
Glasgow User Manual A festival for May 2007 Participate in something to look forward to - by your own invention
Glasgow and West Parks and Green Spaces Action Network - A first statement
Vacant Photos from the archive
Keep Christopher Columbus, out of our parks
The Neocolonialists are at the gates of our parks.
Bureau of public secrets
We Don’t Want Full Employment,
We Want Full Lives!
Document 4
Document, the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival CCA
Hizballah: A Primer
Hizballah, the Lebanese Shi'i movement whose militia is fighting the Israeli army in south Lebanon, has been cast misleadingly in much media coverage of the ongoing war.
Getting involved Stop the Murder
What is the difference between these kids and your own
Glasgow and West Parks Networking Gathering
The event, a get together for local 'friends of' groups, campaigning organisations and neighbourhood forums who take an interest in parks, green spaces and playing fields.
JAM74 gathering/workshops on the way forward in the campaign to stop the M74 northern extension. Sunday 13 August 2006,
What are the Galgael up to - Creating a human element to counter the speed boats; hamburger consumption and corporate welfare promotion, that's the River Festival
Galgael at the River Festival
Eagle Night. An evening of poetry, song and memories, celebrating of the life of Colin Macleod
"We've had phenomenal support from the Glasgow Housing Association and the council has been a great help making everything very easy..." No not for someone looking for a new house dafty. This is business
Chomsky Torrents.org
Download progressive movies (You will need BitComet or some such to use. Free/easy)
Propaganda Blog
Is anyone out there interested in the subject of propaganda, words, art, media, a much neglected subject if ever there was one. It's the bull that glues all the shit together. Free prize for contributors!
Housing: Survey shows most tenants not in favour of second stage transfer. & Right to buy group demand moratorium on bills
Critical Mass Biking Fun! Every month.
Catch the Glasgow action here And be there on Friday the 28 July
"The Scottish Executive is open for business"
The New Regeneration Statement, The Royal Bank of Scotland & the Community Voices Network. Chik Collins (Variant)
INK The return of the free press
Glasgow Residents Network Takes To The Streets Glasgow residents today came together to protest
Your local park[s] or green space[s]?
Woodside - Thoughts to promote debate,
Long-term tenant flung out after GHA repairs nightmare
(From The Burgh Angel)
Save our Buses - Save our homes
Hot off the press "GLASWEGIANS" photo archive.
Super Casinos - They will tell you everything but the facts
From the people who gave you the ID card.
The Super Casino.
The Disappearing"Toon"Glasgow
"Up the Toon" Won't mean the same for Glaswegian's
Parallel universes "vandalism"
This advert from the Herald should reassure those in any doubt that "park privatisation" is moving on a pace
Women defending our schools in parliament
Toxic art is good for you
A seven year old's journey to school
Stronger communities
The need to know. The publics right to be informed
Economics for the real world
International Women's Day @ the Chalkboard
Refugee Destitution Crisis - Meeting,Govan
And some good news -Ali can stay!
7% of the population of this country owned 84% of its wealth.
Neoliberalism
United We Stand Brazil (Lessons to learn)
Constructing Neoliberal Glasgow:
Fw: The UK Fascist State Enabling Act...
Fw: The revolution's here...
Glasgow Bike Library
Beware the Trojan Horse of cuddly capitalism
Anger at scheme to tarmac city park for cars
Save our Schools blog on line
Workshops list for February: need more
People Talking. Life in Wine Alley
Sat. Save our schools demo, pictures
"Workers City"
Interaction Exhibition
We could stop this thing if we put our minds to it
Unity March to save our primary schools
R. D. Laing from 'Wisdom, Madness and Folly'
.War On Want: Cutting Costs at Any Cost
STOP THE DEMOLITION OF HOMES AND HISTORY
Welcome to the Working World
Connections - Sports greed and colonisation
Glasgow user Manual Update
Charters of Liberty in Black Face and White Face:
Race, Slavery and the Commons
War On Want: Cutting costs at any cost
Good News from the East
Clyde Gift to Mark Tsunami Anniversary
Future Glasgow See how the colonisers are carving up our city
The Nobel Lecture: Art, Truth and Politics
Rice with Indefensible Brief; Cheney in Last Throes
I Blame The Patriarchy
March 1997. Liverpool v SK Brann. European Cup Winner's Cup Quarter Final
Support local community, everywhere .Broadway market London.
Anxiety culture
Elitist Slurs Are Racism By Another Name
Spend some time in the Mitchell
Parks "R" Us The US, as usual showing the way
Save Our Homes, Meeting Tomorrow Thursday, Dec 1
A weekend out with Critical Mass
What's My Name, Fool?: Sports and Resistance in the United States If you're young and you don't know what this guy represented, if your a "not into sport" lefty, if you wonder what's so -not brilliant - about the Olympic games, if you wonder what all the laissez-faire development in Glasgow is about..You could find this interesting.
Strolls Sport page - Any British contenders?
Urgent cal lout - Tree cutters moving into Dalkeith country park, Edinburgh
An Urban Clansman's' Perspective
Home Office Immigration offices in Glasgow, closed down by protesters
Galgael: Continuing the spirit of resistance
Is it time for a "real" public debate on Glasgow parks
Books
Selling the river
Report on A highway Plan for Glasgow 1965
Adverts you won't see to much of
Pay up for Glasgow
Here come the Wobblies