(Week 3) 'Unique' Scotch whisky to help Japan disaster victims

Seven independent Scottish distilleries are raising money to help the pore Japanese people. They are creating a unique Scotch Whisky and will sell it to the local Scots. Every penny being made by this action will go to Japan. Euan Mitchell said “Not a penny of profit will be taken from this project by any of the parties involved.”

The Whisky is sold out before it has even been bottled. Most of the 2000 bottles have been pre-sold ahead of its planned bottling by mid-May. It is hoped up to £80,000 will be raised from their sale.

Those behind the collaboration, between distillers Arran, BenRiach, Bladnoch, GlenDronach, Mitchell's Glengyle, Kilchoman and Springbank, said the firms had never collaborated in this way before and were never likely to again.

The combined casks will produce about 2,000 bottles with 1,200 available in the UK at a cost of £59 each.

I think it’s very good that the Scots are raising money to help the tsunami victims in Japan. If they really are to gain £80,000 by selling those bottles; it will really be helpful for the Japanese. This is of course not the only way the Scots are raising money, but the fact that these competing distilleries are working together now, is a very good sign. Unity is very important when you wish to help someone. The Sots are really showing brotherhood now.

May we all help the Japanese in any way we can...!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13182077

(Week 3) Buying a house in Scotland 'cheaper than renting'

In Scotland; buying a house is much cheaper than renting one. Research by the Bank of Scotland shows that there is a difference in 59% depending on whether you rent or buy a house. Renting is much more expensive.

The bank said the change was due to a decline in average mortgage rates.

The bank's housing economist, Suren Thiru, described the improvement in the affordability of buying relative to renting as "significant".

The research also found that across the UK, average buying costs were about 14% lower than the cost of renting.

I think it is outrages that it’s cheaper to buy a house than to rent one. It should be the other way around. I know that due to the crisis it’s almost not possible to get your own home, but the fact that you could better buy one than rent one at the moment, is really not the way it should be. On the other hand, people do like to buy their house at one point in their lives; so way not right now. We’ll see what the future will bring us.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-13169278

(Week 2) Irish republican march held in Denny

Not only the Irish themselves want to see the island of Éire to be united. Also many Scots like to see that happen.

An estimated 150 people participated in an Irish republican march in a town called Denny in central Scotland. The event was organized by a group called: Cairda Na hEireann, which means Friends of Ireland.

The march was against racism and sectarianism, and it was pro unification of Ireland.

Despite the fact many Scots participated there were also Scots who were against this march. Due to European pressure the march could not be stopped by the local authority.

Personally I want to see Ireland to be united as well, so I think it is good to march. It shows the Irish they’re not alone. I also understand people don’t want a march in their town, but they don’t have to participate. As long as the march is peacefully, I don’t think the locals should complain about it.

If there were to be an Irish republican march in the Netherlands I would participate as well. Éireann go Brách!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-13105383

(Week 2) UK nuclear weapon programme 'shameful' says cardinal

The Scottish Catholic cardinal has urged the UK government to stop its “shameful” nuclear programme.  

Just outside the Faslane naval base on Gare Loch; Cardinal Keith O’Brien was addressing a rally against nuclear weapons. He said during an Easter Witness for Peace: “In a nuclear war there would be no victors, only victims.”

He has been teaching the Catholic vision on nuclear weapons for many years now; to whoever is willing to listen to him. He thinks if Britain really wants to be courageous they should give up the nuclear programme, so other nations can follow.

Personally I disagree with the cardinal. I do understand his point, and I also agree that fighting with nuclear weapons is weak and pitiful. Yet I do believe Britain should have weapons like those to protect their kingdom and their allies against the countries that do have that kind of weapons; like North-Korea, Russia and Iran. I am not saying that Britain should use those weapons to attack anyone, but they should have those weapons to defend themselves. But that’s just my opinion. 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13104508

Cànan Nan Gàidheal

Cha b' e sneachda 'san reòthadh bho thuath
Cha b'e crannadh geur fuar bho'n ear
Cha b'e uisge 'san gailleon bho'n iar
Ach an galair a blen bho'n deas
Blàth, duilleach stoc agus freumh
Cànan mo threubh 's mo shluaidh.

Thig thugainn, thig co-rium gu siar
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nam Féinn
Thig thugainn, thig co-rium gu siar
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal

‘S iomadh gille thug greis air a' chuibhl'
‘S an dubh-oidhche thog fonn Gàidhlig a' chridh
‘S iomadh gaisgeach a' bhrosnaich 'sa bhlàir
Gu euchd nuair bu teòtha bha'n strì
O Ghàidheil! O caite ‘n deach d'uaill
‘Nad Chìne 's ‘nad chànan 's do thir?

Thig thugainn, thig co-rium gu siar
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nam Féinn
Thig thugainn, thig co-rium gu siar
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal

Ged theich i le beath' as na glinn
Ged ‘s gann an diugh chluinntear i nas mo
O Dhuthaich MhicAoidh fada tuath
Gu ruig thu Druim-Uachdar nam bo
Gigheadh dhi na h-Eileanan Siar
Bi na claidheamh ‘s na sgiath ‘nad dhòrn.

Thig thugainn, thig co-rium gu siar
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nam Féinn
Thig thugainn, thig co-rium gu siar
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal


Amhrán iontach. An-lyrics láidir.

(Week 1) Celtic broadcasting festival opens in Stornoway

A festival to promote the Celtic cultures has opened in Stornoway (on the Western Isles).  This will help people learn more about the Celtic languages and cultures in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man. Five pupils from Highland schools participated in an initiative to help young people from the area to make twelve short films. The young people are learning skills such as script writing, filming and producing, all of which will enrich their knowledge on culture and linguistics.

I think it is great that there is now a Celtic broadcasting festival in Stornoway. It is good to hear that people can learn much about the Celts from all over the Islands of Britannia. The Celtic culture is a very lovely one, and their languages are very mystical and beautiful. And not to forget the children; this project is very good for the youth on the Western Isles. They are participating in this and learn a lot from it. I am definitely going to go there some time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-13067147

(Week 1) Scottish unemployment rate drops

The unemployment dropped by 7.000 to 219.000 between December and February. Meaning there are now more people with a job in Scotland. The unemployment rate now stands at  8.1%, slightly above the United Kingdom average. These figures are very welcome after a tough winter, and it reminds the government to create perfect conditions for growth of the economy. Both the Scottish and UK governments are doing everything they can to create more jobs for the Scots. The UK government for example are helping to create more private sector jobs in Scotland.

This is extremely good news for Scotland. Many Scots have been unemployed for a very long time now, and so new jobs are very welcome. Yet I do think the fact that the UK needs to help is not a good sign. I was hoping to see that the Scots could take care of themselves. Every time England needs to come to the rescue is a bad thing for a country that wants to be independent. I think this is England’s way to show Scotland, they can’t live without them. But nevertheless it is a good thing to see the Scots working again...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-13061123