Issue 60

Sitting round tables in the relaxed atmosphere always achieved by Music Society concerts, a good- sized audience had a wonderful evening on Saturday Feb 27th, listening to the Atéa Wind Quintet. This brilliant young ensemble, playing flute, oboe, horn, clarinet and bassoon, delighted everyone with music ranging from Mozart to a commissioned piece called How To Avoid Huge Ships – surely a title to fire the imagination.

The close empathy between the players, coupled with extraordinary technical expertise, was quite exceptional, especially as it also packed a hefty emotional punch. Sadly, the information-packed programme neglected to mention the names of the players, but each of them could well have performed as a highly-skilled soloist. The evening culminated in the quite fantastic Carl Nielsen Quintet, a true cornerstone of the repertoire, featuring players in duet passages for couples of them and in differing groupings, always evocative and astonishing. The strangely spacious feeling of Nielsen's music – familiar to members of the Arran Chorus who are currently singing his Mass for Four Voices – is curiously moving and very beautiful. The Atéa players conveyed that with great passion, exemplified by their Russian flautist, whose inspired performance will linger in many minds for a long time.

Arran is to have a visit from one of the crew who worked on the popular television series 'Outlander'. Àdhamh Ó Broin, who is Gaelic consultant to the series, is to give a talk on the island at the invitation of Arran's Gaelic Club 'Na h-Arainnich'. Anyone who follows the Outlander series will know that the dialogue features words and phrases of Gaelic and it was Adhamh who taught these to the actors.

Adhamh himself is a well kent face in the Gaelic world where he is also known as story teller, poet, singer and raconteur and makes regular appearances on Television and radio. As well as telling stories of his work on Outlander Adhamh will describe his initiative to collect and learn the Gaelic dialect of neighbouring Argyll. The talk takes place at Corrie hall on Friday 11th March at 7.30pm. Tickets at £3 for member and £5 for non members will be available on the door and the price includes refreshments.

Our Arran Artist of the Month feature for March is rather different from previous months, for instead of focussing on one individual, we are highlighting a group, Arran Visual Arts. The article has been written by Jan MacGregor.

Arran Visual Arts (AVA) was founded in 2001, by Ken MacGregor, Alison Bell and a group of interested local artists. Its main aim is to promote the arts on Arran for all age groups, by running workshops and exhibitions. Membership is open to anyone interested in Art and costs just £15 per year. (£8 for students). There are about 130 members, most of whom are amateur artists, keen to learn new skills and techniques.

This year’s workshops include 'watercolour painting for the terrified', silk painting, working in pastel, the art of collage, drawing and painting marine life, revamping old furniture and clay work. Tutors are often Arran artists, but also professional artist tutors from further afield.

On Sunday March 13th Corrie Film Club will be showing Girlhood (France 2015), Céline Sciamma’s gritty portrait of a teen’s life in the Paris projects.

Given five stars out of five by Mark Kermode, he said “Girlhood is very much its own master – dancing to its own beat, intertwined yet independent. Marieme (Karidja Touré) lives the “banlieue life” amid the housing projects of Paris, cemented in the cinematic imagination by the grainy monochrome hues of Mathieu Kassovitz’s 1995 film La Haine. With her tall frame and watchful demeanour (her expression suggests the expectation of rebuke, particularly around men), Touré perfectly embodies the awkward tensions of someone torn between childhood and adulthood, driven to the margins by her age, her gender, her race. Dropping out of class, she turns to petty crime, meeting society’s barely veiled expectations head-on, giving as good as she gets. With its street-smart casting (drama and theatre schools were “nearly all white”, says Sciamma, who auditioned non-professionals recruited from malls and train stations), Girlhood speaks the language of its characters with wit, fluency and insight. Yet for all its convincing conversation, much of what is spoken is physical rather than verbal, the story unfolding through gesture, rhythm and on more than one occasion dance. The result is honest, empowering and electrifying. Bravo!”

Rory Cowan of Kildonan is sponsoring an engineering challenge for all Arran children of school age. The final will be held on Saturday 19th March in Kildonan Hall. The competition details and entry form can be found at the end of this article.

The background for this is my engineering experience and my wish to ensure that the importance of engineering is not lost in the stampede for fame that seems to be the media's desire for all youngsters to pursue. In the UK we do not really understand the fundamental importance of engineering in our society and we do not appreciate how important the contribution of the engineer is. There is very little what we use, consume or look at in our world that has not have some form of engineering input - be that a piece of fruit that has been picked, packaged and delivered to a supermarket, or at the other end of the spectrum the space probe. Engineers are involved in making raw materials, manufactured goods, processes, designs prototypes etc etc and society just takes it for granted. By contrast France does consider its engineers more worthy of recognition by contrast to the UK where we have members of that profession who are as well qualified and equally competent - some would argue more so and largely unrecognised. As an indication of how good we are at engineering, all you need to do is to research the huge numbers of British inventions that have been exported for commercial gain and exploitation. Frankly we want to do some of that exploiting ourselves and the first step in that direction is to recognise we can do it and then demonstrate that we can take those ideas and develop them. So enough of the tub thumping, let's look at how the competition came into being.

Firstly I have always wanted to promote engineering somehow and the opportunity came recently when I was left a modest legacy by my aunt. I have therefore set aside a sum of money to promote this competition for the next 10 years or so and this is the first of those competitions.

The competition is open to all children being educated on the island and who are not old enough to drive a car on the day of judging. In brief the task is to build a cantilever to be attached to an anchor on a table and the cantilever has to reach 1 metre from the edge of the table. The cantilever has to support a weight of 3kgs without breaking and is to be made from softwood, 80gsm paper, fishing line and glue (not superglue). The entry has to be able to fit in a particular size of box on arrival at the venue, and construction / assembly has to be completed at the venue. Teams are to be of up to 3, the average age of the team will be calculated and used to weight the marking as will the verbal presentation and the workmanship of the entry. The initial mark for each entry will be calculated by dividing the weight of the entry into 3 kgs. This will provide a number which will then be adjusted by the three factors - age, workmanship and presentation. There will be a judging panel of three, at least two of which will be professional engineers (or retired engineers).

So that's the competition. Say thanks to my Aunt Rachel for enabling it to happen with the prize money and let's hope there are some spectacular entries and a keen competition. - Oh yes and no cheating by getting your dad or mum - or elder brother or sister to do it!!

We will consider the volume of entries on 7th March and may have to decide thereafter to close the entry if there are a very large number of competitors.

The competition rules can be found here and the entry form is here.

The graphic below shows the various sections that make up the South Arran MPA, now officially designated.

As happy as we are about the South Arran MPA, it is important not to forget the dire state of the world’s oceans generally. Sally Campbell writes about two particular threats to healthy seas here.

Eco Savvy took a public step forward on Saturday 27th February in Brodick, presenting ideas for a sustainable Eco Park and Centre to an audience of around 40 people. Arran Eco Savvy Community SCIO was founded as a not for profit environmental group 2 years ago and appeared first in the form of the shop in Whiting Bay, where donated and upcycled goods are sold, with the aim of reducing Arran’s waste and raising funds for the wider project.

Over the 2 years, entirely self-funded with no grants or paid employees, Eco Savvy has gone from strength to strength, with over 400 members, all regularly consulted via community Forums, and many active as volunteers. There have been skill sharing days, auctions, evening events, a permaculture course and the Zero Waste Week last September which culminated in a Big Feast, concocted out of donated food that would have been thrown away, and offered for free to all who came. All events have been free to the community of Arran and in July, Eco Savvy became a charity (SCO45785).

The aims of this group have always been much bigger than the community shop. Eco Savvy’s broad charitable aim is to ‘make Arran a greener and more sustainable island’, and zero waste is just a part of this. Behind the scenes the Trustees and Working Group have been researching, visiting sites on the mainland, planning, consulting and preparing for the envisioned Eco Park and Centre.

Green waste and food waste composting naturally form a part of this vision - much needed on Arran, where currently all green waste collected by North Ayrshire Council is shipped away and sent to landfill. The Eco Savvy big project is for the green waste facility to form part of a larger – 20 acre – site powered by sustainable energy.

With a stunning photograph of a Stonechat on the front cover the Arran Bird Report 2015 is yet another eye-catching annual report. It is a “must” for anyone interested in the birds of Arran.  It includes information on all species seen on Arran, a month by month summary of what was around last year, the impact of weather on birds, information on ringed birds and reports on some of Arran’s bird projects. The uniqueness of Arran is reflected throughout the report, including the number of UK protected birds that share our island, as well as the differences between here and the adjacent mainland.  Over three hundred contributors sent in over eleven thousand records on one hundred and sixty-two species, one of which had never been recorded on Arran before.

The cost is £5, plus £1.50 p&p, and it is available from available from shops and other outlets throughout Arran from Easter and directly from Arran Natural History Society c/o Lindsey & Robert Marr, Tiree, Brodick Road, Lamlash, Isle of Arran, KA27 8JU or contact marr.tiree98@btinternet.com. Cheques should be made payable to “Arran Natural History Society”.

Calling all young photographers …

In memory of Audrey Walters who was passionate about Arran's natural history, the competition's aim is to promote the interest young people have in their local environment and wildlife. There are two age categories (at closing date of competition): Under 18 years and Under 12 years.

At the start of the year in the House of Commons, I had the privilege to contribute to a debate on the issue of pension inequality – an issue which impacts on many women across North Ayrshire & Arran, born in the 1950s.

Following a petition organised by the group Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) which has gained over 120,000 signatures on the UK Parliament website, a Backbench Debate was led by the SNP. In 1995, the then Government announced changes to the state pension, designed to bring the qualifying age for women in to line with that for men, by the year 2020. Further changes in 2011 increased the female retirement age from 60 to 65 by 2018 – with plans for it to reach age 66 by 2020.

These changes have meant that women born after 1950 are not eligible for a state pension as early as they expected, and those born after 1953 had their pension age revised up even further.

A DWP report in 2004 (Public Awareness of State Pension Equalisations, DWP Research Report No 221, 2004) showed that many were not aware of the impact it would have on them, many women find themselves in a position where they will have to work 18 months longer than expected, with only two years notice – throwing retirement plans up in the air. Indeed, Age UK stated that these revised timetables gave “insufficient time to prepare for retirement”.

At the time these changes were made, Pension’s Minister, Steve Webb MP accepted in October 2013 that: “… some women did not know about it, and not everybody heard about it at the time …” In view of this, it is vital that the Government take some responsibility for that failure to notify and fully prepare women for a longer wait for retirement.

The rationale to justify this timetable is also rather flawed, with the Government claiming that the changes would reduce the advantage currently enjoyed by women over men, as a result of a lower pension age and higher life expectancy. However the impact is actually not as clear cut, and men – through typically higher earnings – may be in a better position to offset part of the loss either through savings or a private pension scheme.

In reality, many women view these pension changes as the final insult, having already suffered low pay and inequality throughout a lifetime of work.

Asking older women to return to work to make ends meet after shattering their retirement plans is not just cruel, it simply isn’t fair and in many instances isn’t always possible. Many women, having fully planned for their retirement, may have accepted a redundancy settlement and now find themselves in a position where they must accept a job on a zero hours contract just to get by. Others are simply unable to work due to the commitments they have to looking after older family members or grandchildren.  Indeed, some are not able to find work that is suitable to their state of health.

Whilst the SNP agrees with the principle of equalisation, we do not support the unfair manner in which these changes have been made, and it is clear that a transitional period is required to protect retirement plans for female workers.

On top of this, it is absolutely vital that the same mistakes are not repeated, which is why we are calling on the UK Government to establish an independent pensions commission to fully investigate the impact of pension reforms on current and future generations.

Selected by David Underdown, who also writes the commentary.

… was once like having money in the bank – but not any longer, investors are being warned.

By Paul Brown, Climate News Network.

Investors in fossil fuels are being warned that they may risk losing their money, because the markets for coal and liquefied natural gas are disappearing.

In both cases it is competition from renewables, principally wind and solar power, that is being blamed for the threat. The cost of electricity from renewables continues to fall in Europe and Asia as the numbers of wind and solar installations grow in both continents, cutting demand for imported gas and coal.

Two separate reports on coal and gas were published at the same time as a round of annual financial reports from oil companies showed that this third fossil fuel could be in serious trouble too.

Despite massive cutbacks on exploration and development, companies like Shell and BP still need a price of US$60 a barrel by the end of this year if they are to break even on many of their current projects – almost double the current market price.

Overproduction of coal, gas and oil spells trouble for investors in mines, pipelines, ports and the other infrastructure needed to transport fossil fuels round the globe. The cost of development requires a long lifetime for the equipment and a high long-term guaranteed price for the fuels if investors are to get their money back.

The first report, Stranded Assets and Thermal Coal, found that Australian and US coal assets were the most vulnerable. Australian mines were particularly at risk because of their heavy reliance on exporting coal to markets that were rapidly shrinking.

Australia exports three times as much coal as it consumes locally, but two of the world’s largest markets for coal, India and China, are cutting imports. India’s imports fell by 34% last year and China’s by 31%. Australia’s mines were also seen as high-risk because of environmental regulations and the widespread opposition to their development.

US coal assets were risky because of competition from cheap gas for the same markets. This meant exporting coal and competing in a world market where there is already a significant surplus.

The report said company statements made it clear that investors were not being given the full picture of the risks from environmental regulation and policy.

Many countries pledged in the Paris Agreement reached last December to cut their coal use. If these pledges were kept, the report said, then much of the coal currently shown as an asset would have to be left in the ground.

A separate report, on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also raises the possibility that investors may lose their money. The trade is based on the fact that gas is cheap in the US and expensive in Europe, so the expense of liquefying it and transporting it to Europe is offset. Large investments are being made in the pipelines, ships and ports required to transport it.

There are two problems outlined in the report, LNG and Renewable Power. The first is that the price of gas, which is tied to that of oil, has dropped in Europe, squeezing the margins of the companies that are spending large sums setting up the supply line.

The second is that the market for gas is itself shrinking as the output of the solar panels and wind farms increases. Unless gas investors can see a long-term return from a stable market they will not make a profit, and LPG becomes high-risk.

Predictions on the future of fossil fuel investments all hinge on the price of oil. With big oil companies – and many countries – needing the current price to double to more than $60 a barrel to break even on their current investments. Everybody in the business believes it is only a matter of time before prices double again, but Paul Spedding, former global co-head of oil and gas research at HSBC, an adviser to Carbon Tracker, says he believes the price of oil may never recover. Structural changes in the energy markets, more efficient electric cars, batteries and hybrid solutions no longer favour oil. The European Union for example is already reducing its demand by 1.5% a year.

Similar drops can be expected elsewhere as governments strive to meet their targets under the Paris Agreement. If that happens, an oil surplus will become the new normal and investors in major oil companies will face a difficult future.

Prestwick Airport has been urged to cut any ties with "dangerous extremist" Donald Trump, the Glasgow Evening Times reported recently. The US Republican presidential candidate was branded "an arrogant and racist bully" in the Holyrood chamber by Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie. He called on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to clarify the relationship between the airport, which was bought by the Scottish Government for £1 in November 2013, and Mr. Trump.

Opposition parties accused the SNP administration of hypocrisy after it was reported the airport had held discussions over "potential partnership opportunities" with Trump Turnberry, the businessman's golf resort in South Ayrshire.

In 2014, a press release described the relationship between the airport and the Trump Organisation as an "official partnership" and a "strategic alliance". Ms. Sturgeon withdrew the US entrepreneur's membership of the GlobalScot business network last year after his controversial comments on Muslims and Mexicans, and former first minister Alex Salmond was among senior SNP figures who backed a ban on Mr. Trump entering the UK following the remarks.

Mr. Harvie said: "It has been clear for many years to anyone who cared to take an interest that Donald Trump was an arrogant and racist bully and I had thought that when Nicola Sturgeon took the decision to rightfully kick him out of the GlobalScot network the Scottish Government had come to regret ever having courted his business.

"But now it appears that Prestwick Airport, publicly owned by the Scottish Government, is pursuing an 'official partnership', a 'strategic alliance' with the Trump Organisation. "Doesn't the First Minister agree that any owner of any business, but most particularly a government that exists to serve the public interest, must ensure that the business it owns cuts ties with such a dangerous extremist?"

He asked Ms. Sturgeon to clarify any discussions the Scottish Government has had about the relationship between the airport and the Trump Organisation.

Widespread misconceptions about apprentice pay, qualifications and other important benefits are putting many school leavers off pursuing this route to the workplace, according to new research from Prudential, launched to coincide with the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2016.

Despite an average weekly wage of £269 in Scotland, the majority of school leavers (87 per cent) thought apprentice pay averaged less than £200 per week and six per cent even believe apprentices work for free.

The findings raise concerns over the quality and quantity of information about apprenticeships reaching school leavers, as one in 10 incorrectly believe that recognised qualifications are not available through apprenticeship programmes. More than a third (34 per cent) of 16-18-year-olds in Scotland say the information about apprenticeships in their school or college is ‘poor’, ‘very poor’ or ‘non-existent’ compared with just six per cent who say the same about information regarding university.

Stirling-based insurer Prudential has announced the launch of its 2016 apprenticeship programme, which will create opportunities for up to 40 young people who will be paid the National Living Wage. It’s the latest stage of the company’s £4.1 million investment in its apprentice scheme over a four-year period.

The insurer questioned 16-18-year-olds who have decided against an apprenticeship to understand more about their choices and found that over a third (36 per cent) selected other options due to the perceived level of qualification available, despite some apprenticeship programmes offering qualifications equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. A slightly lower number (31 per cent) felt that going to university would make them more employable than completing an apprenticeship and 20 per cent said it was because their parents didn’t see an apprenticeship as a viable option. A further 15 per cent decided against an apprenticeship because their school or college did not position it as an option and eight per cent felt apprenticeships were for students that could not get into university.

At Coastal Futures Conference in January Jerry Percy, CE of Low Impact Fishers of Europe, presented a disturbing picture of the rise in electric pulse fishing. Beam trawling operates by towing a heavy steel beam, with a number of ‘tickler chains’ arrayed behind it, to force flatfish species, mainly Sole, Plaice and Turbot out of the seabed and into the path of the collecting net.

Concern has been rising over the impact on the seabed and plants and animals that live there (the benthos) and the by-catch from beam trawling. In addition this method is particularly fuel intensive, and costly, even with lower fuel prices. This has affected incomes in the sector. Despite the explicitly prohibited use of electricity, poisons or explosives under EU Regulation 850/98 (as amended), in 2009, the European Commission provided a derogation (an exemption from or relaxation of a rule or law) for a maximum 5% of national beam trawler fleets operating in the North Sea to use electric pulse equipment on an experimental basis.

From an initial five Dutch vessels, referred to as a ‘study group’ that began using electricity to replace tickler chains in 2010, this group has grown in number. During 2015, benefitting from Article 14 of the then new Common Fisheries Policy that provides opportunities for ‘pilot projects’ to improve selectivity and reduce fuel use and benthic impacts, the number of vessels using this technology has increased at the present time to over 100, mainly from Holland but also from the UK, Germany and Belgium, with some conversions funded by the EU.

The widespread use of this equipment as an alternative to traditional beam trawling has replaced one set of concerns with others in that catches of some species, notably Sole, have increased dramatically, and the lighter gear has allowed vessels to fish in previously unfishable areas. There has been a significant increase in local aggregations of pulse vessels, leading to worries related to localised overfishing.

The method produces an element of damage, including broken backs and electrical burns in both the retained catch and to fish left on the seabed.

South to make four spades. West leads the ♠K.

Work on the new Brodick ferry terminal is progressing and we bring you an update here: