Debate

Scotland and Slavery

Date: Friday 14 August

Time: 16:30 to 18:00

Cost: £8.00/£6.00

While Scotland likes to promote its role in the abolition of slavery, the uncomfortable truth that Scots were also involved in the earlier exploitation of the practice has been somewhat erased from our history books. What was the real role of Scots in the slave trade and what was the legacy? Sir Tom Devine will […]

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What does your Commonwealth do for You?

Date: Friday 14 August

Time: 16:30 to 18:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

The Commonwealth today is an association of 53 member countries with nearly 2.5 billion citizens spread across the globe. Detractors perceive it as nothing better than a post-colonial club with very little influence. Its supporters say it promotes democracy, good government, human rights and economic development. Join Chair and former BBC special correspondent Allan Little to discuss the future of […]

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The Democratic Challenge

Date: Friday 14 August

Time: 16:30 to 18:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Voter apathy has become a common complaint from political parties. Yet changes could be afoot with overall voting turnout in Scotland at the recent UK general election at 71.1%, with that figure at 85% in the Referendum last year. So is the tide turning? Join Chair John McCormick, Electoral Commissioner, Scotland as he examines the importance of voting […]

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Muslim Women – Freedom, Femininity and Faith

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 10:30 to 12:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Join Chair Mandy Rhodes, Editor, Holyrood Magazine and panellists to talk about freedom, femininity and faith for Muslim women, featuring journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown who advocates and reclaims female human rights and freedoms in her book Refusing the Veil. They are joined by Smina Akhtar, Director of Amina, the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre. Book signing – Yasmin Alibhai-Brown will be […]

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Who Will Win America?

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 11:00 to 12:30

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Join Chair Sarah Smith, presenter of Scotland 2015 on BBC2 Scotland and former Washington Correspondent for Channel 4 News and panellists for an analysis of the current state of the Democrat and Republican campaigns and the likely outcomes of the U.S. elections in 2016. Panellists include Jason Boxt, U.S. pollster and communications and political strategist; […]

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Building a Peaceful Future after Genocide

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 13:30 to 15:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

In association with Beyond Borders How do we build peace, unity and reconciliation in a region when genocide has taken place? Join Chair Mark Muller Stuart QC, human rights lawyer and founder of Beyond Borders, and our panel who will explore impacts of genocide through their experiences and examine the paths towards forgiveness, restoration and a new peaceful future with […]

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Privacy or National Security - have Spy Agencies gone too far?

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 11:30 to 13:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Is terrorism being used as an excuse to curtail our personal liberties? Are we content that our intelligence services are operating within laws that are fit for purpose? Join Chair Professor Alex Danchev, School of International Relations, University of St Andrews, to discuss these issues with panellists Luke Harding, Guardian journalist and author of The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of […]

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Freedom of Speech

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 13:30 to 15:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

In the aftermath of the attacks on the French magazine Charlie Hebdo this year which themselves triggered worldwide verbal, written and physical attacks, defenders of freedom of speech were challenged to redefine and reconsider whether that position does have its limits. Join Chair Peter MacMahon, Political Editor, ITV Border and panellists Terry Anderson, Scottish Cartoon Art Studio; Jason Boxt, U.S. pollster; […]

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What happened to the Arab Spring?

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 15:30 to 17:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

In association with Beyond Borders In 2011, the social and economic realities of the Middle East caught up with the static political system and led to what has come known as the Arab Spring. Four years later, how has the Arab Spring affected the social and economic realities of the region? Join our Chair, former BBC special correspondent Allan Little […]

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Education as a Global Business

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 16:00 to 17:30

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

With Scottish universities establishing branches across the globe, students referred to as ‘customers’ and thousands of former students ready to dig deep, has education taken one step too far into the world of big business and what does it mean for future Scottish students looking to enter higher education? Join Chair Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, Principal, Robert Gordon University and panellists Robert […]

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Public Service and the Future of Democracy

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 16:00 to 17:30

Cost: £8.00/£6.00

30 extra tickets released - book now to avoid disappointment! In association with The John Smith Centre for Public Service at University of Glasgow and Carnegie UK Trust Hailed as the most popular political philosopher of his generation and a legend in the lecture hall who regularly draws audiences of thousands, Professor Michael J Sandel will give a […]

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Workers’ Rights in the 21st Century – do we need them?

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 11:00 to 12:30

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Although they have been synonymous with industrialization for more than a hundred years, detractors believe unions are outmoded institutions whose role has been pre-empted in the 21st century by labour laws, better human resource management and an increasingly educated and mobile workforce. Yet many believe we still need a fairness and voice in the workplace. […]

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Well fed? How our Food Choices Impact on our Health and Planet

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 11:30 to 13:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

In a world where we are bombarded with often conflicting messages about our diets, is this new information actually making us healthier? Can we cut through the media hype and make wise choices about the food we eat? Join Chair Dr Alan Rowe, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, and our panellists to talk about the […]

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Defining the 2014 Scottish Referendum on Television

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 11:30 to 13:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

How did television news explain what the 2014 Scottish Referendum was about? Dr Marina Dekavalla, University of Stirling, will discuss findings from her study (supported by the ESRC Future Research Leaders scheme) in this session chaired by Mandy Rhodes, Editor, Holyrood Magazine, with panellists Bernard Ponsonby, Political Editor, STV, Sarah Smith, Presenter of Scotland 2015, and Professor Neil Blain, University of […]

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How has Latin America influenced the USA?

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 13:00 to 14:30

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

The Hispanic population in the USA exceeded 50 million at the start of 2011. As a group who have traditionally under-participated at the polling booth, the number of eligible voters has doubled in the last 15 years and over one million young Hispanics turn 18 this year, which means potentially one million new voters ready to […]

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Migration

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 13:30 to 15:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

How we engage with migration reflects on us as a society. How do we respond to people who are looking to live, work, study and seek refuge in Scotland? Join Chair Dr Ima Jackson, Glasgow Caledonian University and Glasgow Refugee and Migration Network, to discuss what Scotland’s political, civic and cultural voice should be in relation to migration. Panellists include Lilja Gretarsdottir, […]

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The History of the Potato

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 14:00 to 15:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Dr Glenn Bryan leads the Potato Genetics and Breeding group at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee and was a participant in both the potato and tomato genome sequencing projects. He teams up with World Kitchen in Leith, for a unique event that will present both an illustrated talk tracing the potato’s roots from Peru to its contemporary use in […]

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What is the Impact of Rising Food Prices?

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 15:30 to 17:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Britain imports around 40% of the food it consumes so is at the mercy of global price rises. Our panel of experts will discuss the new phenomenon of “the malnourished obese”. What is the link between cheap food and poor health? Join Chair Cate Devine, Food and Feature Writer, The Herald, and panellists Dr Alan Rowe, Rowett Institute of Nutrition […]

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Anti-Apartheid

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 15:30 to 17:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

Join Chair Bernard Ponsonby, Political Editor, STV to reflect on the British Anti-Apartheid movement and discuss contemporary South Africa following the end of Apartheid. Panellists include Dr Brian Filling, Honorary Consul for South Africa; Mr Daniel Oliphant, Counsellor at the South African High Commission; and Jean McFadden, former Leader of Glasgow City Council.

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China as a Global Super Power

Date: Sunday 16 August

Time: 16:30 to 18:00

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

According to Deutsche Bank, China could account for a larger share of global GDP than any other country in the next 5 years and knock America off its perch as the world’s biggest economy. What is the basis of this prediction and how will China and America respond? Will China want to be the new super power […]

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What are the Public Service Challenges for Scotland?

Date: Saturday 15 August

Time: 13:00 to 14:45

Cost: £6.00/£4.00

When the Scottish Parliament was created 15 years ago, Scotland was given full control over key services from health to education and increased control on finance and services. Join Chair and BBC journalist Glenn Campbell and our panel of experts to examine the challenges faced by the public services in a post-referendum Scotland. Panellists include […]

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