1 IT’S Black History Month and the celebration in Scotland continues with a series of online events which include a look this week at Scots and early British colonialism in Asia. On Wednesday at 1pm, Dr Andrew McKillop of Glasgow University will consider the growing number of Scots in the Asian half of the Empire and reflect on what this tells us about the colonial and global roots of enduring inequalities and racism in modern Scotland. Register via Eventbrite.
2 Later on Wednesday, at 6pm, Social entrepreneur and inspirational speaker Jamala Osman will be online to discuss how a young person facing a difficult start in life turned her life around to become Britain’s youngest bank manager, a dedicated mentor and role model for other young people. Jamala will discuss her journey of pivoting from challenging circumstances to a life “spiralling into control”. As a speaker and spoken word artist Jamala continues to be a force for positive change.
3 It is the 350th anniversary year of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and on Thursday evening there is a chance to learn more about the fascinating characters who helped to create it. Established in 1670 as a physic garden, it has been shaped by inspirational leaders throughout its history. Listeners can discover how they transformed the garden over four centuries and helped to develop the Botanics into today’s world-leading research organisation with a global remit.
4 There is a silver lining in the Covid cloud and it gives the chance to see two plays which were due to be performed at Mull Theatre but will now premiere online on Tuesday. The methodology behind the creation of the works is unique to this era as the cast members Ashley Smith and Simon Donaldson are a couple and became a bubble in order to rehearse on the island with cinematographer and lighting designer Jamie Wardrop and director Beth Morton. Tickets for Strange Rocks by Oliver Emanuel and Undocumented by Anita Vettesse, which run until October 27, can be bought at www.comar.co.uk.
5 A free exhibition at the V&A in Dundee looks at what individuals can do about the appalling waste in the fashion industry. Sewing Box for the Future shows pioneering projects that are already re-thinking how clothes might be designed, used and cared for in the future, including work from Filippa K, Celia Pym, IDEO London and Chloe Patience. The exhibition invites visitors to join in by learning some new skills to help proactively solve the problem.
6 In the summer of 2005, while the G8 met in Scotland and made promises that have yet to be kept, a people’s movement was born. Under the banner of “Make Poverty History” a quarter of a million people marched on Edinburgh’s streets calling for an end to man-made poverty through changes to a glaringly unjust global trade system and a suffocating debt burden. Since then, the Edinburgh World Justice Festival has continued to keep world justice issues on the agenda in our city. This is the last week of the festival which this year includes talks and other events online. www.ewjf.org.uk.
7 Stuck for something to do in the school holidays? Many gardens are now open including the five star Dawyck Botanic Garden near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. Dawyck has one of Scotland’s finest tree collections, including some of Britain’s oldest and tallest trees, dating back to 1680. Look out for Douglas fir, European Silver fir and Giant Sierra redwoods.
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