Saturday 21 August News Group - A Drama Workshop
Exploring Current Affairs
10.30 (13.30) Education Centre FREE*
24 hours a day the news is streamed to us through
television, newspapers and the internet, bombarding us with
thousands of words and images to process. This workshop,
aimed at adults, will use a range of drama and other
techniques to analyse current news stories and explore how
we can become active participants in current affairs rather
than passive consumers. No previous experience is necessary.
The workshop will be facilitated by Ben Stollery and
Gavin Crichton from Active Inquiry and Fay Young from
Leith Open Space.
Equality begins at 40? Glass Ceilings, Sticky Floors, Gaps, Mummy tracks, Stereotypes and Segregation - What next for Equal Pay?
11.00 (12.00) Committee Room 1 FREE*
Forty years ago women in full time employment were paid
29.4% less than their male equivalent. Today, 40 years after
the introduction of the Equal Pay Act, that figure is 13%, and a
shocking 32% for part time workers. Join us to consider what
it will take to get Scotland working better? Speakers will
include Muriel Robison, Mairi Buchanan, and Peter Hunter, Regional Organiser Equal Pay, UNISON Scotland, and the session will be chaired by
Kaliani Lyle, Scotland Commissioner for the Equality and
Human Rights Commission.
In association with the Equality and Human Rights Commission
and Close the Gap.
The Trouble With Transition -
Moving Into Adulthood and Becoming
Older with a Learning Disability
11.00 (12.00) Committee Room 3 FREE*
Most people move smoothly from school into
further or higher education, work and when they
finish their working lives, they move into old age.
For people with learning disabilities this journey is
disrupted and disjointed, often because services
don’t work well together and, most importantly,
don’t communicate and inform those involved.
This event will inform professionals and providers
of the need to plan together, to communicate well
and to have the person at the centre of the
journey. People with learning disabilities, family
carers and professionals will talk about their
experiences in this area.
In association with the Parliament's Cross Party Group
for Learning Disability.
Moving Portraits
13.30 (14.30) Committee Room 1 FREE*
Full details of this event are given on page 4.
Freedom of Information -
What Difference Has it Made?
13.30 (14.30) Committee Room 3 FREE*
Since new Freedom of Information laws came into effect in 2005,
people have been using their rights to request and receive
information from Scotland’s public bodies. As a result there has
been greater transparency about issues such as public contracts,
hospital cleaning, and the expenses of elected representatives.
Kevin Dunion, the Scottish Information Commissioner, will
discuss the achievements of FOI over its first five years, and
we'll hear from those who have successfully used FOI to make
a difference campaigning to prevent school closures, change
housing policy, or improve healthcare practices. Panelists include
Sandy Longmuir, Scottish Rural Schools Network; Bill Scott,
Inclusion Scotland; and Michelle Stewart, C Diff Justice Group.
In association with the Scottish Information Commissioner.
Mediating Conflict
15.00 (16.00) Main Chamber - £6.00 (£3.50)
Book in advance
For any major conflict to successfully come to an end a
settlement that is acceptable to all parties involved must be
mediated. Third-party countries can often play an important
role in bringing those involved in conflict to the negotiating
table, and facilitating peace agreements. Join Des Browne,
former Defence Secretary; David Coltart, Minister for Education,
Sports, Arts and Culture for the MDC Party in Zimbabwe;
Martin Griffiths, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian
Dialogue, former UK diplomat; and Sir Menzies Campbell MP,
former Leader of the Liberal Democrats; as they discuss the
vital need conflict mediation, and the possible role Scotland
could play in this arena. Chaired by Mark Muller QC.
In association with the Beyond Borders Festival.
Picturing Conflict
16.00 (17.00) Committee Room 1 FREE*
Full details of this event are given on the World Press Photography page.
Women at the Top:
Where next for Women in Politics?
16.00 (17.00) Committee Room 3 FREE*
The Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly of
Wales have been international beacons of progress in
establishing higher levels of representation for women
in politics. But at the 2007 elections there was a decline
in the number of women elected and it’s feared it could
be worse still in 2011. After the recent general election
campaign in which female politicians had such a low
profile, we’ll be discussing what the future holds
for women in politics in Scotland and across the UK.
In association with the Hansard Society.
A Life in Politics - John Prescott
17.00 (18.00) Main Chamber - £6.00 (£3.50)
Book in advance
John Prescott was Britain's longest serving Deputy Prime Minister
and a key player in the Blair Government. One of his most
significant achievements was to lead negotiations with
120 nations at Kyoto, resulting in the first treaty on climate
change. He still works with the Chinese on their plans to build a
thousand new 'sustainable' cities. The son of a railway
signalman, John Prescott left Ellesmere Port Secondary School
at the age of 15 to begin work as a Trainee Chef. From 1955
to 1963 he worked as a steward in the Merchant Navy, leaving
to attend Ruskin College in Oxford and then Hull University where
he read Economics and Politics before entering a life in politics
first in opposition and then in Government. Join him in
conversation with Alex Fergusson MSP, Presiding Officer as he
discusses his life in politics.
*Tickets available in advance (subject to a booking fee) or on the day
