Sunday, August 26, 2007
Posted in Scotland, Government, Culture, News at 10:56 am by Steve
The debate over this seems to be still raging in certain quarters about the legislation and how it affects Scottish sporrans, their wearing especially. I would like to discuss the matter a little further.
The legislation concerned is The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007 which are amending parts of The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. As you can see the legislation is only an amendment to an already existing piece of legislation that has been in force for over 13 years.
The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 state:
European protected species of animals
38. The species of animals listed in Annex IV(a) to the Habitats Directive whose natural range includes any area in Great Britain are listed in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.
References in these Regulations to a “European protected species” of animal are to any of those species.
Protection of wild animals of European protected species
39.”(1) It is an offence-
(a) deliberately to capture or kill a wild animal of a European protected species;
(b) deliberately to disturb any such animal;
(c) deliberately to take or destroy the eggs of such an animal; or
(d) to damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of such an animal.
(2) It is an offence to keep, transport, sell or exchange, or offer for sale or exchange, any live or dead wild animal of a European protected species, or any part of, or anything derived from, such an animal.
(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) apply to all stages of the life of the animals to which they apply.
(4) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under paragraph (2) if he shows-
(a) that the animal had not been taken or killed, or had been lawfully taken or killed, or
(b) that the animal or other thing in question had been lawfully sold (whether to him or any other person).
For this purpose “lawfully” means without any contravention of these Regulations or Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981[49].
(5) In any proceedings for an offence under this regulation, the animal in question shall be presumed to have been a wild animal unless the contrary is shown.
(6) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
As you can see from this legislation Scottish sporrans are not mentioned anywhere. This is about the protection of certain endangered animal species and subsequently their skins.
These animals have been protected since this 1994 Act and it has been illegal since then. If you had a Scottish sporran made from any of these animals (contained in AnnexIV(a) of the Habitats Directive) and did not comply with the law you have broken the law since 1994. the new legislation just added the fact that a licence is required to be had for them now. The same animals are protected and in the same way since 1994.
The reason that the government has made the new legislation retrospective is unclear to me. I am sure that there is a reasonable explanation of it. It maybe that they were required to do it to comply with the EU directive or indeed there may be other explanations.
Some people have made the point that it appears you are guilty until proven innocent with this legislation. They are of the opinion that they will get charged and convicted of an offence or have to prove their innocence even if their sporran was legally obtained either prior to 1994 or post 1994 but in compliance with the legislation. In my opinion this will not be the case. Scots law requires corroborative evidence for their to be a charge conferred. The prosecution would have to have evidence to show that you obtained it illegally. The mere fact that you could not prove it wasn’t is not evidence enough for a conviction under Scots law, there has to be corroborative evidence that you are guilty of the offence. Also remember that you are not obliged to say anything under caution. The prosecution cannot force you to give evidence against yourself in a court of law.
Scottish sporrans have been dragged into this by no fault of their own but I do not see that it has done any particular harm to the industry.
I am not legally trained in anyway so if you are in the position that you have a sporran that is covered by the legislation please do see a legal professional. These are my own personal views on the matter and should not be taken as legally binding in any way.
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Thursday, July 19, 2007
Posted in Scotland, News, Europe, News, United Kingdom, News at 1:39 pm by Steve
The BBC has just not being doing very well recently has it. First it insults HRH The Queen and now it has published absolute rubbish about Scottish sporrans and their requirements for a licence.
The BBC news article was published and it is absolutely obvious that they hadn’t a clue what they were talking about. In this article it infers that most skins have now the requirement for a licence and that anyone not possessing one is due for a short sharp trip to jail and also a large fine.
An article that discusses the truth about it can be found at Scottish Sporrans - The Licence - The Truth . This article discusses what was said in the BBC article and rubbishes most of it with the truth.
When are the media going to stop printing what they want and start researching BEFORE they print. It seems all to easy for them to get away with talking nonsense and then not to bother with any retraction when they are found out to be foolish.
The BBC article has a picture of a badger which has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with this legislation at all. Could they not find a picture of an animal that was covered by this legislation or did they just want to cause the utmost problems to those who wear, sell and manufacture sporrans.
This article and the comments on millions of websites thereafter and other media articles like it have cost this industry quite a few problems. So much so that the Scottish Executive had to give out a statement with regards the matter.
The truth of the matter is that the animals covered by this legislation are those found in Annex IV(a) of the Habitats Directive which include such animals as Testudo hermanni (Hermann’s Tortoise), Salamandra lanzai (Lanza’s Alpine Salamander; Large Alpine Salamander) and Podarcis muralis (Comman Wall Lizard) to name but three of the list that spans over 200 animals. Only the possibility of beaver, wildcat stick out at me as being possible candidates for sporrans but I have yet to see one of these for sale.
It is time the press got their act together and were accountable for the crap they print which can destroy people and their livelihoods.
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Monday, January 29, 2007
Posted in Scotland, Government, News at 1:01 pm by Steve
I read with dismay today an article in the Scotsman where the discussion of how our autistic children are being treated and educated. It makes some disturbing reading.
As an uncle of a several nephews and nieces one of whom has high end autism this subject is definitely dear to me.
A quote form Robert Brown, Deputy Education Minister ,
“Children with autistic spectrum disorder require special support in class; that’s why we asked HMIe to look at the provision for these pupils. We have carefully studied the HMIe report and while we are pleased they have found a great deal of good practice, we recognise more needs to be done.”
I am afraid this is politician speak for “we haven’t got a clue”. This smacks of “we don’t do enough, we know we don’t but we have absolutely no intention of getting to grips with the problem but we will never admit it.”
What amazes me is that autism is not really understood by most of us in society. A lot of children at school, who may well have low end autism like Asperger’s Disorder, which is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder, are traeted as just “bad” or “unruly”.
Both Asperger’s Disorder and Autistic Disorder are in fact subgroups of a larger diagnostic category. This larger category is called either Autistic Spectrum Disorders, mostly in European countries, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders (”PDD”), in the United States. In Asperger’s Disorder, affected individuals are characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. There are impairments in two-sided social interaction and non-verbal communication. Though grammatical, their speech is peculiar due to abnormalities of inflection and a repetitive pattern. Clumsiness is prominent both in their articulation and gross motor behavior. They usually have a circumscribed area of interest which usually leaves no space for more age appropriate, common interests. Some examples are cars, trains, French Literature, door knobs, hinges, cappucino, meteorology, astronomy or history. The name “Asperger” comes from Hans Asperger, an Austrian physician who first described the syndrome in 1944. (Taken from http://www.aspergers.com).
In the article it discusses that many teachers who were involved in this study did not track the academic progress of autistic children. This is terrible. I do not particularly blame the teachers though. The teachers job is a hard enough one without the added burdens through over crowding and under training. We should support out teachers in their quest to educate our young folk and assist them in anyway we can.
Our government seem to be failing our children in this respect so it is time for us to get them told.
After al it is reckoned that many very brilliant people in our history may have well bee autistic. It is a matter of debate , although never can be proved as the diagnosis didn’t exist in those days, that several of the most famous classical composers and artists of the bygone years may well have been autistic to some degree. That says it all to me. We should cherish EVERY single child we have as you NEVER know what they will become.
Please have a look at the full article and let me know what you think.
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Thursday, January 25, 2007
Posted in Scotland, Culture at 11:48 am by Steve
Just a wee note to say Happy Birthday to our Scottish National Bard - Robert Burns.
Today marks the 248th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, in Alloway, Ayrshire Scotland.
Rantin’, Rovin’ Robin
Tune: Daintie Davie
Chorus: Robin was a rovin’ boy,
Rantin’, rovin’, rantin’, rovin’,
Robin was a rovin’ boy,
Rantin’, rovin’, Robin!
There was a lad was born in Kyle,
But whatna day o’ whatna style,
I doubt it’s hardly worth the while
To be sae nice wi’ Robin.
Our monarch’s hindmost year but ane
Was five-and-twenty days begun,
‘Twas then a blast o’ Jan’war’ win’
Blew hansel in on Robin.
The gossip keekit in his loof,
Quo’ scho, “Wha lives will see the proof,
This waly boy will be nae coof:
I think we’ll ca’ him Robin.”
“He’ll hae misfortunes great an’ sma’,
But aye a heart aboon them a’,
He’ll be a credit till us a’,
We’ll a’ be proud o’ Robin.”
“But sure as three times three mak nine,
I see by ilka score and line,
This chap will dearly like our kin’,
So leeze me on thee! Robin.”
“Guid faith,” quo’, scho, “I doubt you, sir,
Ye gar bonnie lasses lie aspar;
But twenty fauts ye may hae waur
So blessins on thee Robin!”
I wonder how many of his works would have been written and published if he had been still alive today considering the huge amount that was published in a relatively short lifetime.
Don’t forget to come across and have a chat on our Robert Burns Forum or just have a look around our Robert Burns site which has much information on the Bard himself.
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Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Posted in Scotland, Culture, News at 9:35 am by Steve
Reading the papers this morning and another reality show in the headlines for alleged racist remarks. For the record I do not watch these programmes as they bore me to tears as I find the lives of these kind of people to be very shallow and I have more to do with my time than watch them.
This time the perpetrator is an Edinburgh “It” type person named Lucy Buchanan who, to all intents and purposes, is a well rounded, well educated young woman who should know right from wrong. The debacle has led her parents to have to defend her position in the media whilst she cavorts around some far flung sunny beach.
One quote from her parents is:
“By definition, she has had advantages in life, which mean that she has been cosseted in a way that for most children is simply not available to them. It is our firm belief that Lucy, as a naïve teenager, made these silly and very unfortunate remarks on the back of her excitement at being on Shipwrecked”
I am so glad that offensive, and even criminal remarks can now be explained by explaining that the person was ” naïve” and “excited”. To me that is worse than a person who is allegedly informed, making racist remarks. It to me can be far more dangerous as the root cause is parenting that did not come up to scratch and created another human being like this.
An alleged quote by this “naïve teenager” was:
“Britain is a complete mess. I just don’t appreciate people coming into our country and taking over our culture.”
What an idiot!!!! Could somebody please explain to her that Britain has been changing culture due to other races and cultures coming here for centuries and centuries, probably since the dawn of mankind. Scotland was invaded by England and England was invaded by others, to name just two such culture variations. It is due to these and other migrations (however forceful that they were) that the culture of Edinburgh etc. has been made. Culture is a multi faceted thing and I for one embrace other cultures as there are some wonderful and amazing things out there that are different from ours.
Another piece of wisdom from the lunatic was allegedly:
“I’m for the British Empire and things. I’m for slavery, but that’s never going to come back.”
WHAT!!!! I have never heard so much garbage in all of my life. This is an indefensible position from a person who I could never call “a naïve teenager”. This is a position from somebody who to me is totally uneducated and one that is inherently a bully. Get over the Empire. It is gone thank God. Look at the mess we made of many places. To say that slavery is okay is the mark of mark very stupid person and to me is one step away from saying the likes oh Hitler and Amin were right.
More words of wisdom on other subjects include:
Describing fat people as “disgusting”, calling for them to get their stomachs stitched, and branded lesbians “sinister”.
This one needs sorted. What an ignorant human being.
Her parents have come into the media before her return to plead for us to give her the chance to explain her comments and to stop her from being treated as a social pariah when she does.
“We hope that on Lucy’s return she will be afforded the opportunity to use this life experience in a positive way to demonstrate that she can act as an ambassador for change and moderation.”
I say that she went into this program with her eyes open (unless she has never heard of or seen these other reality shows that have been going on for years) and deserves everything she gets. I hope she does become a pariah as this will serve to mark what we as a nation think of these kind of folk. She went into this programme to be seen so as to benefit her life so she can get what is coming to her.
In answer to the question I asked in the title. I think it is both and I think that even if it is ignorance then that is as bad if not worse.
There is no room in my life for racism and bullying. As a Scotsman I applaud other cultures and embrace them and I would urge them to do the same with mine so that we can all live together in peace.
I would far rather have people from other cultures in my community that idiots like her. I vote we fling her out and get somebody from another culture in to replace her. That would be of much more benefit to my country.
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Sunday, January 21, 2007
Posted in Miscellaneous, Scotland, Government at 12:41 am by Steve
Poor old Gordon. made a bit of a woopsie apparently.
Allegedly the Prime Minister elect, or so some think but in my opinion he never will be or if he is it will not be for long, named England, not Scotland, as the team he’d like to win the World Cup.
As usual the SNP jumped on this and claimed that ” his stance would impress neither the Scottish nor English.” Well they should know. That is the position they are in on a daily basis.
Poor Gordon is trying to please all. He is trying to make everybody like him so that his passage to being the Prime Minister will be a smooth one. I am sorry but there is no way an English voting public will allow Gordon to be the next Prime Minister after a general election.
The faux pas happened when :
“Announcing the launch of the English bid for the 2018 World Cup, Mr Brown said he hoped the host nation would win the tournament. When talking about the English, he repeatedly used the word “we”. When asked what about the Scotland team, he said only that they would “do well.”
He is caught between a rock and a hard place but after all he is British. He shouldn’t have to worry about Scotland winning the World Cup that year as they will probably not qualify anyway !!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you would like to read the full article in the Scotsman just click here.
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Posted in Miscellaneous, Scotland, Culture at 12:06 am by Steve
I was lucky enough to be able to attend the above function which was held in Glasgow at The Hilton, Glasgow on Thursday 18th January 2007.
This was an absolutely wonderful event which raised much needed cash for the charity and was attended I believe by over 600 people.
As the title of this blog suggests, I am a bit of a grump, so I will tell you about all the wonderful goings on at the supper in a moment but first I must have a bit of a rant.
When I was growing up my parents always taught me the rights and wrongs (hopefully correctly) and one of the things I was taught was that it is polite and mannerly to keep quiet whilst others are talking or performing. I am sure that in Burns day these manners were of the utmost and I am wholly sure that whilst Burns was speaking no one would dare or be so ignorant as to talk to someone else during it.
During this supper, for the first time in my life, I was actually embarrassed to be Glaswegian. Although I moved to Ayrshire about 8 years ago (less than a mile from Burns’ birthplace) and love it dearly I always consider myself as Glaswegian. I was always proud of their friendly and open attitude, a reputation that is held worldwide. Not any more. The ignoramuses have taken over the asylum.
The supper was a full posh, formal function and had an Master of Ceremonies and a chairman. These folk called for order and the evening began. Unfortunately during the whole evening the crowd never shut up once and it was a constant rabble for the whole night. the MC and the chairman tried on many occasions to keep order in the room but it never quite came. During the night we had singers and speakers and at one point an auction. I don’t think at any time was there the proper order in the room. It was not as if it was not being attended by people who did not know any better. the crowd was made up from many local businesses, many of them high profile companies like Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Ireland, Anglo Irish Bank, and many many other companies of builders, lawyers, architects, in other words allegedly professional people.
During the auction, which was the highlight of the night in the charity terms, the rabble kept on going and the auctioneer had to shout over it and he had the benefit of using a microphone but still had to be shout to be heard. I was looking forward to attending the function for the Burns Supper part but I knew full well that the benefits of the night must be the charity.
My opinion of the reason for the misbehaviour is two-fold. Yes alcohol had to play a part in it but the main reason was the corporate nature of it. It really seemed that the people that would not give order were just there for a night out and had not a care about either Burns or the charity. It seemed to be full of corporate bought tickets which had been given to a bunch of ignoramuses who probably couldn’t spell Burns never mind understand him. Too many were there for their own purposes of a free corporate night out rather than for the reason of the supper or the charity. You all know who you are and you should be ashamed of your behaviour at a wonderful event. Just in case you do not realise but it takes many people a hell of a lot of work to create these nights, so it is polite to enjoy the night and not ruin it for others.
It seems a shame now to talk about the good things at the supper of which there were many so I think I will have a chat about across at my Robert Burns Forum about it. Just click here if you would like to read about the night and all of the good things that were happening at it.
All this experience serves to tell me is that peoples manners are failing at all ages. It is not just the youth of today, who are constantly being lambasted for their lack of manners, probably by those ignoramuses that were at this dinner, but it is at all ages that ignorance and selfishness is becoming prominent. How can we blame our youth id these supposed older and wiser folk are no better if not worse. The young ones learn from the old !!!!!!!
One thing I know for sure. Robert Burns himself would not have spoken or continued to speak in front of such a rabble. That says it all to me about modern times.
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Monday, January 8, 2007
Posted in Miscellaneous at 9:21 pm by Steve
Sorry that it is a bit belated but business has been keeping me really busy.
Wishing you all a great 2007 and wishing that it brings you all what you wish for and maybe a wee bit more.
Looking forward to ranting with you all.
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Saturday, December 23, 2006
Posted in Scotland, Government at 10:48 am by Steve
I was just reading with great interest (well not really) the article in The Scotsman.
The Scottish Office in Dover House in London employs 22 staff and has an annual budget of £122,000.
There are many comments on this article and most if not all of them are for the complete abolition of this department as it is a complete waste of public money. The fact that the function rooms have only been used 37 times this year and that they send out the equivalent of one letter a day seems to back up this position.
I would like to put a slightly different point of view.
Scotland is technically not a country in it’s own right. Yes we do have a devolved government but we are still part of the United Kingdom so therefore we should have a part in it’s governing. To totally dissolve ourselves from the British Parilament would be very stupid if not suicidal.
The knee jerk reaction from people is yes that it is a waste of money but to be perfectly blunt £122,000 is not that much money when you consider that includes the wages of 22 people.
Scotland indeed has it’s own parliament but it cannot deal with all matters relating to the country of Scotland as that country technically does not exist. If Scotland does gain independence (I personally hope it never does as I would leave if this country was run by people like Jack “I canny even wear the kilt right” McConnell & Nicola “The Neb” Sturgeon), this will be a different matter but even then we would have to technically set up an embassy style department which will cost a fortune more than the £122,000 we are paying now.
I would feel very isolated if the Scotland Office were to close as we would have very little representation left at Westminster which to me is a bad thing. To me it is only a person that wants to go down the route of independence that should be calling for the Scottish Office to shut and that then, for me, would entitle them to their free straight jacket and wee padded room.
The money that we are talking about maybe a large amount of money but I do contend that it is not really a lot in the scheme of things and the alternatives would be either very bleak or much more costly. I do agree that it maybe needs a shake up but we need to retain it and take it to the next level.
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Posted in Scotland, News at 11:04 am by Steve
Just reading in the BBC Scottish News that Glasgow City Council have approved plans for a £100m refit of the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow.
My question is why do we need another shopping centre that size in Glasgow? We already have Buchanan Galleries which is nice and we also have many many other shops throughout the City Centre. I really do not see the benefit of adding another faceless shopping centre. The character of Glasgow is vastly changing because of these shopping centres. All of the big stores want to get a piece of the new shopping centres (understandably) so move from other premises in the same city centre leaving the original premises either empty and soon to be derelict or empty for a £1 shop to move in.
I would honestly far rather see the original buildings, which are architectural wonders, being renovated and therefore the character of Glasgow spruced up rather than completely changed.
I have been to the U.S. a few times now and have visited quite a few states and quite a few towns. We have family there and always go to “normal” places rather than “touristy” ones. The overwhelming feeling I get about America is that it is ALL the same. All of the “malls” are sort of kit built and look remarkably similar. I have been in Texan malls and they are exactly the same as Virginian ones. The city centres of a lot of American cities are very similar. I love America but I do find that everywhere is, architecturally, very similar. I genuinely feel that if we are not careful we will destroy the individual character of our cities and everything will start to look the same if we allow these great (in the sense of huge), characterless shopping “malls” to spring up. We have a huge shopping mall at Braehead which is just outside of Glasgow (technically half of it is in Glasgow and the other half is in Paisley). This is huge and offers so many shops that I do not understand why we have to turn our city centre into another boring procession of shopping centres. Retain it’s character.
We already have many Pizza Huts, McDonalds, Burger Kings etc. keep the rest individual to the city.
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