Activism

Friends of the Earth Scotland's popular, annual fundraising Ceilidh.

The Robert Fish Band will lead the dancing and there'll also be a local and organic bar and a fundraising raffle.

SPOKES, Edinburgh's long-running cycle advocacy group, is urging anyone who cares about cycling and walking in the city to attend its protest at St Andrew's House against the cuts to active tr

Edinburgh City Council yesterday voted to recognise the occupation in Edinburgh's financial quarter in St Andrew Square in a motion put forward by Green candidate Maggie Chapman.

Participants in the Occupy Edinburgh encampment in St Andrew Square have agreed to move to a new location to the edge of the park in time for

Shoppers of the world are being asked to put down their carrier bags on what is traditionally one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, put up their feet and/or do something fun and free for the  annual Buy Nothing Day.

Occupy Edinburgh continues to camp out in St Andrew Square, the heart of Edinburgh's historic financial district. Participants are acting out of solidarity with the global Occupy movement which is seeking action on the iniquities caused by the bank bailouts and to stop the financial and ecological debt that is being diverted onto future generations.

Professor Yasir Suleiman CBE FRSE
Professor of Modern Arabic Studies, University of Cambridge

It started with Adusters magazine's poster, inspired by the Arab Spring, suggesting that Americans Occupy Wall Street on 17th September. "Bring tent" said the poster. They did, in huge numbers. And they stayed. Surprising media commentators and the authorities, the movement continues to grow globally.

Bellies will bounce and beards fly when hundreds of santas make their annual charity jog through Princes Street Gardens. At two laps around the gardens, even the most sleigh-bound santa shouldn't have too much of a problem.

Ten years ago it was widely publicised that minerals such as coltan and cassiterite used in electronics, particularly cell phones, were funding violent militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo

According to the Marine Conservation Society, Scotland had the highest average litter levels in the UK of six out of the seven sewage-related debris items: condoms, cotton bud sticks, nappies, tampons/tampon applicators, toilet fresheners, and sanitary towels/pantyliners/backing strips.

The joint winners of the 2011 Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award were announced yesterday. The winners of the award that honours productions fighting for human rights were Sold (view photos), directed by Catherine Alexander at the Pleasance Courtyard, and The Wheel, directed by Vicky Featherstone at the Traverse.

The Festival of Politics 2011, which runs from 20 - 27 August, presents a diverse programme of events bringing together politics, media and the arts through performance, discussion and debate.

Plans to demolish the auditorium of the former Odeon Cinema on Clerk Street and build an "arts hotel" were given the thumbs down by Edinburgh city councillors yesterday.

All hands on deck for this community clean-up of the popular, sandy Belhaven Beach. This volunteer event is being run by Surfers Against Sewage, with support from Barefoot wines, as part of a UK beach cleaning tour of 14 beaches between May and September.

Edinburgh marks UK-wide Bike Week with a small number of cycling events such as commuter challenges, communal rides, and various other events aimed at encouraging people to get on their bikes.

The SPOKES bike breakfast is one of the highlights of Edinburgh Bike Week - a chance to meet fellow cyclists over a cooked breakfast and a hot drink: just turn up at the quadrangle at the City Chambers on the High Street on your bike and receive your free breakfast provided by City of Edinburgh Council.

The Fringe Society, the body that publishes the Fringe programme, has opened nominations for the newly established Participants’ Council. The deadline for submitting nominations is 6 May 2011.

Scotland's national LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) pride festival is a traditional pride march and rally, and a community based festival. The festival, held in Edinburgh every two years, encompasses live music, DJs and a health and community fair.

With cycling season now upon us we follow up the St Andrews bike ride video with another less established Edinburgh bike ride, the World Naked Bike Ride.