Issue 67

The film to be shown on October 9th at 8.00pm in the Corrie and Sannox Village Hall will be that great classic, The Maltese Falcon, directed by John Huston in the USA in 1941.

A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, plus a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.

The screenplay was based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. The film stars Humphrey Bogart as private investigator Sam Spade and Mary Astor as his femme fatale client. Gladys George, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet co-star, with Greenstreet appearing in his film debut. Greenstreet's characterization of the sinister "Fat Man" Kasper Gutman had such a strong cultural impact that the "Fat Man" atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki during World War II was named after him.

Huston used much of the dialogue from the original novel but removed all references to sex that the Hays Office had deemed to be unacceptable. Huston was also warned not to show excessive drinking. The director fought the latter, on the grounds that Spade was a man who put away a half bottle of hard liquor a day and showing him completely abstaining from alcohol would mean seriously falsifying his character!

The "Maltese Falcon" itself is said to have been based on the "Kniphausen Hawk", a ceremonial pouring vessel made in 1697 for George William von Kniphausen, Count of the Holy Roman Empire. It is modeled after a hawk perched on a rock and is encrusted with red garnets, amethysts, emeralds and blue sapphires. The vessel is currently owned by the Cavendish family and is part of the collection at Chatsworth House.

In 1989, The Maltese Falcon was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film has been named as one of the greatest films of all time by Roger Ebert, and was added to his list of The Great Movies.

The International Criminal Court is not known for prosecuting people responsible for huge oil slicks, chopping down protected rainforests or contaminating pristine land. But these people may now one day find themselves on trial in The Hague, writes Tara Smith Lecturer in Law, Bangor University, in The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/why-the-international-criminal-court-is-right-to-focus-on-the-environment-65920).

She goes on to explain “The move was announced by chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in a recent policy document that contains a new and welcome focus on the prosecution of individuals for human atrocities that are committed by destroying the environment in which we live and on which we depend.”

“The document doesn’t change the law applied by the court. There is no new crime of ecocide for instance. Instead, it sets out the types of cases that the court will now select and prioritise for prosecution. These will include the illegal exploitation of natural resources, cases of environmental destruction, and “land grabbing”, where investors buy up vast areas of poor countries.”

A lively brass quintet is the next presentation by Isle of Arran Music Society, on 15th October in the Community Theatre at Arran High School. Brass Tacks consists of five highly experienced professional musicians dedicated to making music from throughout the ages from the Renaissance to the present day, and guaranteed to appeal to a wide audience, young and old, with tastes ranging from classical to jazz. Their programme for Lamlash includes music by Gabrieli, Beethoven, Paul Dukas (who composed the Sorcerer’s Apprentice music in Dismey’s “Fantasia”), and Gershwin, not to mention the traditional “Loch Lomond” and New Orleans jazz.

The line-up is led by Finlay Hetherington on trumpet, with John Sampson (trumpet), Fiona Lund (trombone), Robert Newt (french horn) and Roberts Fraser (tuba). Based in the central belt of Scotland, Brass Tacks have played for a great variety of audiences, including a concert at Glasgow Central Station, as well as the Edinburgh Fringe and Fife Sports Awards. They aim “to not only enthuse and excite, but also to entertain their listeners and release new life and theatre into music which has either been forgotten, played in different contexts, or never had a chance to have a life in the first place”. The concert starts at 7.30, and tickets are available on the door on the night, in advance from Inspirations of Arran in Brodick, or online from www.arranevents.com.

North Ayrshire Council have given approval for the erection of 5 (20.2m high to blade tip) turbines, comprising of 2 turbines at south end of Holy Isle and 3 at north end. A number of conditions have been imposed by NAC:

1. To protect visual amenity and the landscape qualities of the wider area.
2. To ensure that birds, bats, otters and other protected species are not adversely affected by the proposal.
3. In recognition of the archaeological significance of the site.
4. To protect the amenity of neighbours from noise.
5. To protect the landscape qualities of the area.
6. In the interest of the proper planning of the area.

The Voice has supported this application from the beginning but is also pleased to see the above conditions imposed. Unfortunately the tone of the discussions and objections to the planning application has been most disappointing, with far too many examples of prejudice and ignorance from residents both of Arran and elsewhere. The Voice also considers, however, that the Holy Isle community itself could have made much more effort to engage the wider Arran community in explanation and exploration of their plans.

From John Kinsman, station manager at Coastwatch St Monans

The MV Hebrides, well known to Arran folk, has hit rocks and run aground in the Western Isles.  She suffered engine problems when approaching the pier at Lochmaddy.on Sunday September 25th and hit the rocky shore near the yacht marina.

A CalMac spokesperson said "We can confirm there was an incident at Lochmaddy on North Uist. The incident happened at 11.05am as the MV Hebrides, travelling from Tarbet on Harris, was approaching Lochmaddy harbour. A technical problem led the ferry being unable to reduce speed enough for the routine docking and she struck both pontoons in Lochmaddy harbour and rocks. No one was hurt and the ferry's hull remained intact".

There were 76 passengers and crew on board and 13 cars, one lorry and a caravan.

A team of divers will make an underwater inspection of the hull and an inquiry into what happened has been launched.

If you’ve tasted any of George Grassie’s breads, made in the old Bakery next to the Kinloch Hotel, you’ll understand why I wanted to hear from him how he learned these ancient artisan skills and why we’re so lucky that he came to be baking here on Arran.

That second question is easy to answer as George is an Arran man who grew up in Shiskine, although he travelled the world for twenty years before returning with a growing family. Always passionate about cooking – every aspect from street food to fine dining – he came to realise that there was a gaping hole in conventional tuition and thinking in Britain – and that was about bread. In Spain, he began to see how bread could be an intrinsic part of any simple meal, say of just oil and fish. In Bath, he learned with French baker Richard Bertinet, who inspired him with his understated approach and simple strict recipes. George recommends Bertinet’s book Crust: From Sourdough, Spelt and Rye Bread to Ciabatta, Bagels and Brioche, very warmly for anyone keen to learn, as he feels it is the only book to show the joy, and the techniques on its accompanying DVD.

George’s true baking career began in Norway, where he ran a small bakery, Lund Brod in a remote rural spot. He was attracted by the availability of special wheats and rare rye, and was involved in every part of the process, from sourcing the farms where the rare wheats were still grown, having the miller try new types of grinding and learning how to deal with extreme temperatures during fermentation. Then, as now, sourdough was his baseline and is superior, but he is not a stickler and can use added yeast in limited quantities.

Selected by David Underdown who also writes the commentary.

October 6th is National Poetry Day. Arran’s contribution to it will be held in Brodick Bar at 7:30 that evening.

The theme for 2016 is ‘Messages’ but poems on any theme are very welcome. We thought we would follow what seemed to be a very successful formula last year.

So again it will be an interactive evening and it will be everyone’s contributions that bring it alive. As usual some of our local poets will read their work and beside them we would like to hear from you. Please let me know if you wish to read one of your own poems to us all. And let us know, for timing purposes, if it is a long or short poem. You can have a couple in reserve as we don’t know how many people will want to read.

If you are a poetry lover but not a poet we would like very much if you would bring a favourite poem to read — or if you don’t want to face an audience yourself, someone will read it for you.

So that we can plan the evening, it would be helpful if you could let us know ahead if you want to read. Just send an e-mail to the above address. And you can also e-mail or phone Cicely (700464) if you have any queries about the evening.

Meanwhile please tell your friends and bring them along on the night. And of course, if you just want to come and listen, that is fine — we can’t do without an audience!

Please click here to see the poster.

A photography competition for young people – entries are invited now!

In memory of Audrey Walters who was passionate about Arran's natural history, the competition 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.

Entrants can submit up to 3 images of any Arran flora or fauna, taken on the island between 1st December 2015 and 30th November 2016.

Rules

Image must be of flora (plants) or fauna (wildlife). Image must be taken on the Isle of Arran within the dates specified. Wildlife must not be disturbed, injured or distressed. No nesting birds, birds nests or eggs. No captive, domesticated, farm animals or birds. Flora must not be damaged or picked. No cultivated plants or flowers are permitted. Photographs must be entrants own work. Maximum of 3 images per entrant. Digital images only. ANHS reserves the right to use any images on their website, for social media and in publications. It is advised that you read the photography wildlife code.

Editing and Submission

Minimal editing is allowed (exposure, contrast, sharpness). No HDR or stacking is permitted. Images to be submitted as .jpeg files labelled with the entrants name and image number if more than one submitted :- e.g. yourname1.jpeg, yourname2.jpeg One image per email. Images to be emailed to: .

Your email must include: "Under 12" or "Under 18" in the subject bar. Your name, date of birth and home address together with a brief description of the image (max 10 words per image), the location where it was taken (specific area on the island) and the date it was taken must all be in the message body.

Closing Date

30th November 2016

Cutting emissions to meet the internationally-agreed limits on global temperature rise will require an end soon to all fossil-fuelled cars, according to the Climate News Network.

A new study says that achieving limits on temperature rise agreed at last year’s Paris climate conference will require a massive switch to zero emissions electric-powered vehicles (EVs), coupled with the development of a completely decarbonised power sector.

COAST was the driving force behind the creation of Scotland’s first No Take Zone (NTZ) in 2008.

A NTZ is an area of sea and seabed from which no marine life can be removed by any method.  Scientific evidence has shown that NTZs are one of the most effective ways to ensure marine regeneration.

The Lamlash Bay NTZ is approximately a one square mile area at the north end of Lamlash Bay on the isle of Arran set up to protect Maerl beds and to promote natural regeneration of all marine life. Following 13 years of campaigning by COAST, it was designated by the Scottish Government on 20 September 2008.

In 2013, COAST and the community of Arran and the Clyde celebrated five years of the NTZ being in place.  Surveys taken show that after five years, the seabed is now 40 per cent more complex and healthier than the area outside the NTZ.  There are higher densities of scallops, crabs and lobsters, both older and larger, being recorded and increased numbers of juvenile cod and haddock. The NTZ has benefited the local economy by attracting visitors and divers to Arran.  In time, commercial fishermen will gain with bigger and better catches in the neighbouring overspill areas.

On this 20th September a jolly bunch of COAST staff, volunteers, supporters and visiting researchers gathered in Creelers Restaurant for a celebration dinner to mark the 8th anniversary of the Lamlash Bay No Take Zone.

For some time the Voice has been following with concern the proposed TTIP plans, which would allow business corporations to challenge environmental safeguards, amongst other things, if they were thought to interfere with profit-making. But now Alyn Smith, Scottish MEP, reports that:

“This week there was even more confirmation that the Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) really is at death's door. On Monday the Commission conceded that it had still to successfully negotiate even one of the proposed twenty four chapters of TTIP. This shows quite how little progress has been made on TTIP and confirms what I have been saying for a while: it is nearly over. It also shows how difficult trade negotiations can be, something the UK Government keeps forgetting. In further TTIP news French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl confirmed that since the talks were going nowhere France intended to request that the TTIP negotiations stop.”

So thank goodness for that.

South to make 4♠. West leads the ♠J.

We must not cease from our work in creating Scotland anew. We face ever greater challenges. It is not just Scotland we must recast. We have communities, cities, workplaces to change. We have the tools that can make that change, it is a matter of finding the opportunities to use those tools. By defining our identity as egalitarian, internationalist and committed to saving our planet we can claim back our souls from Thatcherism. The independence referendum was only the beginning. Its spirit lives on, and we can and will use that spirit to create the Scotland we all deserve in the world we all deserve.

The Scottish Greens Maggie Chapman, writing in Bella Caledonia.