Plastic Bag charge
Virgin Money boss to talk at Holyrood
Museum of Edinburgh Georgian Day
Liz Lochhead event
Light Night
Today you have to start paying for all your paper and plastic bags at supermarkets and other shops like takeaways. The Scottish Government has brought in legislation which comes into force today imposing a charge of at least 5p on any bags you need to use to take your shopping home.
The US state of California was one of the most recent adopters of the policy to stop us using plastic bags only once. This is a worldwide problem as you can see from this video
The government says: “Scotland alone uses a staggering 800 million single-use bags each year. And each year, council litter collectors pick up at least 7.4 million bags from our streets and surroundings.”
So take your own bag wherever you go and save the planet!
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The Chief Executive of Virgin Money, Jayne-Anne Gadhia, is to address MSPs and senior business representatives at the Business in the Parliament conference at Holyrood in November.
Ms Gadhia, who is also Chair of Scottish Business in the Community, will address the theme of this year’s conference, which is ‘Shaping Scotland’s Economic Future’.
Now in its ninth year, Business in the Parliament will bring together over 200 politicians and business representatives during the two day event on 6 and 7 November. Issues such as exporting, productivity and supporting a youth business boom will be among the topics discussed.
The Convener of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, Murdo Fraser MSP, First Minister, the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney MSP will also address the conference, which is being held in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
Presiding Officer, The Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said:
“This annual event allows business people from across Scotland to discuss issues affecting their business with politicians. I look forward to chairing what is guaranteed to be an important opportunity for businesses and politicians to meet.”
Convener of the Economy Committee Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Having just had an intense period of debate about Scotland’s future, it is important that we channel this interest and have a frank discussion about how politicians and business can work together to achieve a bright economic future for Scotland.”
Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
“The Business in Parliament Conference is a great opportunity for business people, academics and politicians to come together to discuss how best we can improve economic conditions and enhance economic growth.
“The Scottish Government, with our enterprise agencies and Local Authorities, work closely with business and industry to ensure the country continues to be a competitive place to do business.”
Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Chief Executive of Virgin Money said:
“The Scottish referendum showed that politics matter — to people, society and to business. I am proud to live in a country which could have so full and so loud a debate about its future, and believe we now have the opportunity to build an even stronger Scotland. I am looking forward to being part of the debate.”
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Museum of Edinburgh has some real live history for you on 25 October.
GEORGIAN DAY with Edinburgh City Guard Living History Group
Saturday 25 October, 11am-4pm
FREE for all the Family
Step back in time to 1760 and Meet the Citizens of Edinburgh!
Discover how the soldiers of the Edinburgh City Guard kept order in the bustling capital, and see them drilling in the courtyard. Hear Jacobite veterans tell tall tales of their heroic exploits, and talk with ladies of fashion about life in the city.
Throughout the day……
– Military drills by the City Guard in the courtyard
– See the City Guards on sentry duty at the gate
– Experience Stocks in the courtyard (the City Guard will perform the occasional “arrest”!)
– Characters available all day inside and out (depending on the weather) for drop-in chats
– Hear the breaking news of the death of George II (on that very day in 1760).
Photo courtesy of Museum of Edinburgh
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The Word is Scots: Liz Lochhead and the Mother Tongue at The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse on 28 October at 18.30.
The National Poet for Scotland, puts the use of Scots in poetry under the microscope.
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Light Night is when the festivities that make up Edinburgh’s Christmas really get under way. This year the events will take place on Sunday 23rd November 2014, from 2pm to 5pm.
- Light Night – the Opening Ceremony of Edinburgh’s Christmas is free for all to enjoy and encapsulates the true spirit of the festive season: family and the community.
- This is an event for the community, by the community, with an expected audience of over 25,000 watching approximately 600 local performers on George Street.
- The theme of this year event is Christmas Songs and Carols. A number of stages will be erected along George Street and 22 local schools and other community
groups will present performances of their favourite Christmas songs.
- Light Night will be hosted by Arlene Stuart of Forth One.
- Among the schools and community groups performing will be 22 primary schools, 2 secondary schools and 25 community groups including Cramond School, Leith
Academy, Wester Hailes Education Centre and Edinburgh and East Lothian Arts .
- The Christmas Tree on the Mound, a gift to the City of Edinburgh Council from the Hordaland County Council in Norway, will be lit as part of the Light Night switch- on and musicians from Hordaland in Norway will lead George Street in celebration and song.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
