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Five things you need to know today

August 17, 2012 12:51 pm

Sainsburys – Fringe show with a difference! – Penguins – Book Festival – The Forest is back

There is some consternation among those opposed to Sainsburys taking over from our corner shops with their Local outlets.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, said:

“After people in Portobello succeeded in fighting off an earlier supermarket development that would have ruined High Street trade this sneaky takeover is galling. I’m sure many people in the area will continue to support the superb range of local, independent retailers that directly benefit the area’s economy.

“Sadly, across Edinburgh, we’ve seen the creeping presence of corporate interests that restrict choice by squeezing independent traders out of business. Are we not at saturation point?

“Retail giants like Sainsbury’s have too much power, pushing small and medium sized retailers to the wall. Supermarkets are also in the dubious habit of donating large sums to the big political parties who conveniently do nothing to challenge their dominance.

“As an Edinburgh councillor I successfully moved a motion to investigate whether we could ask for planning permission to be sought before this sort of sneaky takeover takes place. Last I heard the council had written to the Scottish Government and were waiting for a response.”

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Today’s photograph shows Fletcher the Butler who is at your service as part of a Fringe show with a difference. You can ask him or his band of professionals to come to your house, clean the silver or serve you a lavish breakfast. Book now!

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Penguins have been an iconic part of Edinburgh Zoo for many, many years – Norway actually gifted the first king penguin to the Zoo in its opening year of 1913 – and for 40 years the Norwegian King’s Guard have adopted the king penguin as their official mascot. First adopting this bird, named Nils Olav, as their mascot back in 1972 the Guardsmen make the trip annually to Edinburgh Zoo to pay a visit to their very special comrade.

This year the event will be slightly different as Sir Nils Olav, along with the other kings and some Gentoo penguins are holidaying elsewhere while work on Penguins Rock, their new and improved enclosure gets underway. This year’s honorary visit to Edinburgh Zoo by the Norwegian King’s Guard will celebrate 40 years since they first adopted the king penguin, who quickly rose up through the ranks and received his knighthood in 2011.

Major Nils Egelien – who first suggested adopting the king penguin as the mascot back in 1972 – along with a group Norwegian King’s Guard veterans will be celebrating the long standing history and links between Scotland and Norway. A special exhibition on animal mascots throughout military history will launch on the 17^th August to coincide with their visit, a series of talks and short presentations will take place on a whole host of mascot animals.

The exhibition, Animals Beyond the Call of Duty will run daily at the Education Centre at Edinburgh Zoo from 17^th– 31^st August. Arranged by Dr Guy Puzey from Edinburgh University will feature the stories of the world famous king penguin, Sir Nils Olaf, Bamse the St Bernard Mascot of the Norwegian forces, Winkie the pigeon that saved the crew of a RAF 42 squadron on a mission to Norway, this pigeon also won the first Dickin Medal, the animal bravery award and Wojtek ‘the warrior bear’ bear who was enlisted in the Polish 22^nd Artillery and who lived here at Edinburgh Zoo from 1947 to 1963.

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Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards take place today at 18.30.

Dame Jenni Murray will unveil the winner of the prestigious Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book of the Year. The recipient of the £30,000 first prize is drawn from four Scottish writers already selected as finalists and voted for by the public. The Finalists are: Ali Smith (fiction), Janice Galloway (non-fiction), Angus Peter Campbell (poetry) and Simon Stephenson (first book).

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And the good news of the week is that The Forest is back. The arts group which was evicted from Bristo last year has found new premises in Tollcross which STV Local tell you all about here.