The Whole is Shattered and Wrecked

Speymouth August 4, 2025

“The whole is shattered and wrecked”: human ecology, relationality and dùthchas in the testimonies of the Free Church ministers of the far north-west to the Napier Commission. This is a script of a paper delivered by Dr. Gemma Smith at the ‘Interrogating the Napier Commission’ Conference held at Glasgow University on 24-25th July, organised by […] Source

Thoughts on the SNP’s independence strategy

Speymouth August 4, 2025

We are back from our trip to England, and before writing anything else I have to tell you that both my other half and I are completely besotted with our new baby granddaughter. I realise that I am contractually obliged to be biased, but Ivy is gorgeous. She’s a very happy…

Learning from Aotearoa: A Path Forward for Scottish Gaelic

Speymouth July 25, 2025

Scotland can learn from Aotearoa (New Zealand), where Māori communities established Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori immersion schools) and Kōhanga Reo (Māori language nests for toddlers) to defend their culture and save their language. Language. It’s more than just words; it’s the very soul of the people, woven into every thread of their culture and identity. […] Source

Edinburgh International Film Festival: Made in London

Speymouth July 24, 2025

After earlier reporting on the claims by the BBC’s film critic Siobhan Synnot that the Edinburgh Film Festival is “created in London and shipped up to Edinburgh for ten days” and that “90% of the people who select the films live outside Scotland and are London-based” [Edinburgh Film Festival ‘created in London’ ] – a […] Source